The acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has vowed to clamp down on those smuggling, illicit drugs, rice and arms into the country.
Adeniyi disclosed this at an interactive session with officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone B during a working visit to Kaduna State, warning those engaged in such criminal behaviour to repent.
“There seems to be an upsurge in the smuggling of rice and narcotics. Some unscrupulous elements also try to smuggle arms. We have to have zero tolerance for the smuggling of rice. We must not allow them to sabotage our country. We must not let them affect our local currency. When we let them import, they put pressure on our currency. We must ensure food security by allowing rice to be produced in Nigeria,” he said.
The Customs boss identified the need to effectively police the country’s border with Niger Republic, saying that nothing should cross to either side of the border as the sanction by the Economic Community of West African States is still in place.
He told the officers that the authorities of ECOWAS have not changed their position regarding the closure of the border with Niger, urging them to ensure effective policing of the border.
Adeniyi disclosed that it is their responsibility to ensure the full closure of the borders in their areas of responsibility.
He charged officers and men of FOU Zone B to build the confidence of the communities in border areas to put an end to smuggling into the country, noting that strategies for successful operations were reviewed two months ago.
The Customs boss lauded the comptroller, officers, and men for the seizures recorded by the command so far, describing them as commendable, and assured that the Customs hierarchy is moving ahead to ensure the expansion of infrastructure at FOU Zone B for the comfort of the personnel.
He then issued a stern warning to the officers to be professional in discharging their responsibilities.
