The Coordinator of the Joint Border Operations Drill Sector 3 North Central Zone, Compt. Mohammed Uba Garba has warned the Textiles, Shoes, Veils and Market Women Association, Kwara State Chapter to abstain from buying or selling of the smuggled goods.
Compt. Garba sounded this note of warning on Friday (March 13, 2020) during an interactive meeting with the members of the association in continuation of the sensitization program of critical stakeholders being embarked upon by the sector as part of it’s frantic efforts to halt the smuggling activities and promote the government’s directive on partial border closure in the country.
The meeting, according to a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officers, Chado Zakari, and made available to journalists in the state,was conducted through a bi-lingual means of communication-English and Yoruba- to furnish members of the association with information about danger inherent in patronizing smuggled goods and the consequences.
The Coordinator explained that the border closure was aimed at encouraging local farmers and local industries to strive and to provide job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth in the country.
He added that part of the conscious effort of the border closure was to enhance and strengthen security architecture of the Nation, saying that If the environment was not secured, revenue generation and collection will be a mirage for Nigeria Customs Service and the country in general.
The statement added that the meeting was to re-emphasize the sector’s mission which is to enforce Federal Government’s directives and policies on the partial border closure, and that movement of persons with valid travel documents from 6.am -6pm is still in enforce while illegal migration is checked.
He advised textile materials dealers, that are buying their goods from Kano to always have a copy of Single Goods Declaration Form (SGD) used and ensure that they pay for their goods from the original importers to prevent their goods being seized.
The Coordinator sought for assistance from the association to partner with the sector by sensitizing their members which is capable of dissuading smugglers, those patronizing them and those who work against the interest of the nation.
He explained that Section- 147 of Customs and excise Lawgives power to Customs officers to search and raid any premises suspected to be housing smuggled goods, as such any shop, company or house identified to be stocked with smuggled goods will not be spared.
He declared that the sector under his control would continue to support and and vigorously work in line with the President’s transformation agenda especially in the area of security, pointing out that the service has essentially keyed into protecting the borders from inflitration of dangerous weapons and destructive materials.
He listed reduction in smuggling of illicit arms used for terrorism/crime, illegal drugs, and Sub-standard foods with potential to cause health hazards; reduction in human/Child Trafficking and illegal migration; reduction in the quantity of PMS consumed daily in Nigeria by about 10 million liters.
According to him, this is presumed to be the average quantity of PMS usually smuggled from Nigeria daily into neighboring countries through the numerous petrol stations along the border communities.
He equally mentioned increase in government revenue accrued from payment of Nigeria Customs Service duties; provision of enabling environment to boost local production especially area of Agriculture; enhancement of security across Kwara state/north central zone; denial of freedom of movement to criminals and reduction in criminal activities and crime rate across the state and zone and Nigeria in general as some of the achievements recorded so far.
The coordinator alsohinted that since border closure Sector 3 which covers Niger/Kwara/Kogi and Benue State has recorded the seizures of 12,255 Bags of Rice;252,000 liters of PMS; 6,617 liters of AGO;177 Vehicles; 80 Motorcycles; 160 Illegal Migrants and 11 Illicit Weapons.
Comptr. Garba disclosed that the estimated monetary value of the seized goods since the commencement of partial border closure is N703, 746,780.00.
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