Anti Smuggling: Customs Record N1.51b Seizures in Ogun

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said its anti-smuggling operations led to the recovery of N1.51billion in the last eight months.

The Customs Area Controller, DC Ahmadu Shuaibu who disclosed above on Monday during an address at a symposium organised by the Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum (IPYF), titled, “Smuggling and Hoarding Of Petroleum Products: Effects On Border Communities & National Security,’ , said smuggling retards the nation’s economic development, hampers social wellbeing and endanger national security.

The Ogun 1 Command Customs boss, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller, Administration, Charles Ogunesan, appealed to smugglers and their supporters within and outside the border areas to channel their resources to legitimate businesses and help in building the country; noting that it is time smuggling is stopped considering the inherent dangers to the smugglers, security agents and the nation at large.

Shuaibu lamented that while the service has lost officers, either  to death and varying levels of disabilities, locals have also not been spared all as a result of the unfortunate but avoidable evil called smuggling.

His words, “The Command in conjunction with the youths, used the opportunity of this auspicious occasion to bring us all together, to inform and enlighten us about the consequence of smuggling on our socioeconomic wellbeing and national security. Over the years, the Command had recorded series of horrible and unwanted experiences in our line of lawful duties.

“These experiences range from blocking of access road by smugglers and their sympathizers, mob attacks of officers either going in pursuit of information or conveying seized goods to the government warehouses, skirmishes to altercation which often result to casualties.

“We have lost of officers to death and permanent disability while our dear communities had lost their members to the evil of this unfortunate demon called smuggling. It is high time we say no to smuggling considering the dangers inherent in it. It retards our economic development, hamper our social wellbeing and endanger our national security.”

” From January of this year to date, for instance, the Command had made a seizure of goods worth N1,514,478,916.00. If such huge amount of money is well utilized for legitimate trade, this will no doubt improve our economy.”

Shuaibu who reiterated that the security and development of the country is the responsibility of everyone, stated that the core mandate of the command is to generate revenue, suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade and secure our border lines; added:

“Similarly, the recent seizure of smuggled ammunition and the usual seizure of harmful substances like Cannabis Sativa (popularly known as Indian helm), among other dangerous goods, are good examples of threat to our social wellbeing and national security.

“Permit me to state empathically, that our core mandate in Ogun State is to generate revenue, suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade and secure our border lines. I want you to know that the security and development of our dear nation are the responsibility of us all,” Shuaibu stated.

However, in his address, the keynote speaker, Barr. Kehinde Bamiwola, advised government to reduce Customs duty and tariff on goods not locally produced in the country, warning that any country whose import is more than export will be regarded as a dumping ground that will be bugged by high debt profile.

“Smuggling kills or destroys local industries and the domestic economy. Smuggling creates unhealthy competition for local industries outside the doctrine of comparative cost advantage. This has nothing to do with the concept of legitimate international trade. It causes great economic loss through loss of Customs duties, taxes receivable by government and also promotes proliferation of fake, counterfeit or substandard items.

“To the Border communities, smuggling discourages education, industrialization and legitimate trade and antithesis to Agricultural development as well as tilting and disequilibrium the national income equation.”

He, however, recommended that government should aid local production of goods that are mostly imported via agric loans, subventions and free Customs duty on farm equipment and machines.