The Acting Controller of Ogun Area 1 Command within the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, made an appeal on Monday to various stakeholders, especially the youth in border communities, urging them to collaborate in awareness campaigns aimed at combating the issue of smuggling in the region.
He also revealed that the command had recorded seizures amounting to N1.5 billion in goods over the past nine months. Shuaibu emphasized that if this substantial sum had been spent on legitimate trade, it would have significantly improved the economy of the border communities and the nation as a whole.
Shuaibu made this plea while addressing the audience at Idiroko Border in Ipokia Local Government Area during the 5th annual symposium organized by the Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum, coinciding with Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration. The symposium’s theme was “Smuggling and Hoarding of Petroleum Products: Effects on Border Communities and National Security.” Shuaibu also expressed concern about ongoing attacks on NCS anti-smuggling operatives, which had resulted in the loss of lives and permanent disabilities for some officers.
Represented by Deputy Comptroller, Charles Ogunesan, Shuaibu disclosed that the command had over the years, recorded several attacks ranging from blocking of access roads, mob action, and altercations with smugglers and their sympathisers which often result in loss of lives.
“Over the years, the command had recorded a series of horrible and unwanted experiences in our line of lawful duties. We have lost scores of officers while our dear communities have also lost many of 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.”
He stressed that youths’ involvement in the anti-smuggling crusade will also go a long way toward reducing the rate of avoidable deaths which the host border communities have had to live with “due to the evil of this unfortunate demon called smuggling”.
Smuggling, he said, “retards our economic development, hampers our social well-being, and endangers our national security. I want you to know that the security and development of our dear nation are the responsibility of us all”.
