No hiding place for
smugglers, says customs chief
By TOKUNBO OLOKE
Thursday, May
1 , 2008
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme border command, said it
generated more revenue from imported fairly used vehicles,
popularly known as tokunbo cars last year than the previous
year. The command also said it realized a total of N606 million
in the year 2007, as against N312 million realized the previous
year.
Commenting on the smuggling activities at Seme border, the
Area Controller of the command, Abdullahi Dikko, explained
that when he assumed office, he discovered that the command
was not making much money from imported cars and immediately
summoned a meeting of officers in the command.
According to him, having realised the amount of loss they
would incur if they continued using illegal routes, the importers
reverted to the routes where they are charged the stipulated
duties. He explained that smuggling of imported cars and other
contraband goods had reduced drastically.
“The smugglers thought we had gone to sleep in January.
We arrested five suspects who tried to smuggle bags of rice,
vegetable oil, textile materials and other assorted goods.”
To curb smuggling activities in Seme border, Dikko advised
bankers and clearing agents operating at the command to provide
job opportunities for the youths.
“Wherever I find myself, I always want peace to reign
among the service, other government agencies and our immediate
community. There is cordial relationship among the security
agencies that operate in the command.
In fact, any command I go, I see myself as a son sent by the
Comptroller General of Customs, to perform his duties, which
had been happening since I came here,” he added.
On the challenges currently facing the command, Dikko lamented
that his officers were not allowed to make arrests because
of the location of the customs office in Seme border.
“The Beninoise said we cannot impose our laws on them
because the land where our office is situated, belongs to
them,” he said.
|
