Anti-smuggling Awareness Campaign: Ogun Area 1 Customs Co-sponsors Youths' Anniversary... Generates N1.5b in 9 Months

Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Ogun 1 Command, Idiroko, DC Ahmadu Bello Shu'aibu, has recounted the adverse effect of smuggling in that axis, and sought the cooperation of border communities to be on the same page with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in its anti-smuggling drive.

The CAC, at a symposium jointly organized by the command and the Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum (IPYF), to mark the IPYF fifth year annual Independence Day celebration, an event that took place at Mercyland Events Hall, Idiroko, lamented that, "Over the years, the command had recorded series of horrible and unwanted experiences in our line of lawful duties".

According to him, "These experiences range from blocking of access roads by smugglers and their sympathizers, mob attacks of officers, either going in pursuit of information or conveying seized goods to the government warehouse, skirmishes to altercation, which often resulted to casualties".

This, he noted, had resulted to the loss of scores of officers, while some are left with permanent disabilities, "while our dear communities had also lost many of their members to the evil of this unfortunate demon called smuggling".

Consequently, Shu'aibu, who was represented at the occasion, with the theme: "Smuggling and Hoarding of Petroleum Products: Effects on Border Communities and National Security", by the DC in charge of the command's administration, Charles Ogunesan, however, opined that, it was high time all and sundry flayed the hydra-headed smuggling, given its inherent impediments to national development, as well as mitigating against the country's  well-being and posing threat to her security.

Meanwhile, the Customs boss disclosed that, the smugglers in the axis lost One Billion, Five Hundred wand Fourteen Million, Four Hundred and Sebenty-eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Naira (N1, 514, 478, 916.00) to the command betweenw January to date, and stated that, If such huge amount of money was expended on legitimate trade, it would improve the nation's economy.

Citing an instance of recent seizures of cache  of smuggled ammunition and other harmful substances like Cannabis Sativa, also known as Indian hemp, Compt. Shu'aibu said these were good examples of the threats of smuggling to "our social well-being and national security".

He said, "Our core mandate in Ogun State is to generate revenue, suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade and secure our border lines", adding that, the security and development of the country was the responsibility of everyone.

To this end, the Controller sought the maximum support and cooperation of everyone in the fight against smuglling, and said, "Within our capacity, we shall continue to strive to give back to our dear communities, through corporate social responsibilities".

Delivering his keynote address, Barr. Kehinde Bamiwola observed that "smuggling kills or destroys local industries and the domestic economy - Smuggling creates unhealthy competition for local industries outside the doctrine of comparative cost advantage. This has nothing to do with the concept of legitimate international trade.

"It causes great economic loss through loss of Customs duties, taxes receivable by government; it promotes prolifiration of fake or counterfeit or substandard items; to the border communities, smuggling discourages education, industrialization and legitimate trade; it is antithesis to agricultural development", Barr Bamiwola, a legal consultant to many Nigeria's trade unions stated.

He, however, among other recommendations, suggested to the federal government to reduce Customs duties and tariffs on goods not locally produced in the country.

He also noted that any country whose imports exceeded its exports ended up being a dumping ground, as its debt profile would astronomically be shot up.

Bamiwola also recommended that government should aid local production of goods that are mostly imported through agricultural loans, subventions and free Customs duty on farm equipment and machines.

“Government should aid local production of goods that are mostly imported via Agric-loans; industrialization grants, subventions and make farm equipment and machines Customs duty-free.

“Proper regulation and stabilization of the foreign exchange market should be done. Foreign currency speculators and racketeers including their sponsors (bourgeoisies or money bags) should be dealt with if we must have a sane demand and supply regulated foreign exchange market in Nigeria", the guest speaker recommended.

The event, which had 10 panelists drawn from all sectors of the community, had two Customs men, AC Mohammed Lawal and the command's spokesman, SC Hammed Bukoye Oloyede; a traditional ruler, Oba James Ajani igbowu; Navy Commodore Festus Olusegun Hodewu (Rtd) and Otunba (Hon) Bisi Oyedele of the Ogun State House of Assembly

Others were two religious leaders, Alhaji Imam Ibrahim Adegoke Idris, Pastor (Dr.) Ade Agbaje JP; a media guru, Abaru Simiat, and one representative each from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

In attendance were representatives of virtually all sister agencies and traditional rulers.