Ilorin
Border closure remains because of the need to encourage local farmers and local industries to strive and provide job opportunities to the teaming unemployed youths.
The Coordinator, Joint Border Operations Drill Sector 3, (JBODS),Ilorin, Kwara State, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba, said this in Ilorin on Friday during the sensitisation of members of Textiles, Shoes, Veils and Market Women association, state chapter.
He added that the measure was also aimed at providing security to the nation.
Garba said,”If the environment is not secured, revenue generation and collection will be a mirage for Nigeria Customs Service.”
He stressed that his mission was to enforce Federal Government directives and policies on partial border closure, adding that movement of persons with valid traveling document” from 6.am -6pm is still in enforce.”
He urged members of the association not to patronise or sell smuggled goods, adding that textile dealers buying goods from Kano should always have a copy of Single Goods Declaration Form (SGD), use and pay for their goods from the original importers.
This, Garba said, was necessary to avoid their goods being seized.
The Coordinator, however, solicited partnership of the association to assist the Customs in sensitising its members on the evil effect of smuggling and the need for them shun working against the interest of the nation.
He explained that Section- 147 of Customs and exercise law gives power to Customs officers to search and raid any premises suspected to be housing smuggled goods.
The comptroller said that any shop, company or house identified to be stock with smuggled goods woukd not spared the rod of the government.
He declared that in line with the president’s transformation agenda, especially on security, the Service had essentially keyed into protecting the borders, to guard against infiltration of dangerous weapons and destructive materials.
The coordinator listed the achievements of sector 3 since border closure to include:
• 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. 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
• 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
The coordinator also mentioned that the border closure sector had recorded the following seizures-
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, all valued at N703, 746,780.00.
