New Ogun Customs boss highlights achievements in 2 weeks, issues stern warning to smugglers
The newly appointed acting controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun State command, DC. Agbara Ojobo Michael on Tuesday reeled out achievements of the command under leadership in just two weeks of taking over.
Recall that the former controller, Comp. Sani Madugu handed over to the new acting controller on Tuesday, April 17.
Reeling out the achievements on Tuesday at a press briefing at the at Idiroko Axis of the command, Ojobo said under his leadership a total of thirty (30) seizures with Duty Paid Value of N53, 320, 025.00 were made.
He also hinted that four smuggling suspects were arrested.
In his words: “Earlier, I informed this highly esteem gathering that I was going to consolidate and improve on the performance of my predecessor. The fulfilment of my promise can be justified based on the successes recorded during the period under review (17th April to 2nd May, 2018). During the aforementioned period a total of thirty (30) seizures with Duty Paid Value of N53, 320, 025.00 were made. Items seized include: 28 vehicles (4 units of tokunbos and 24 means of conveyance), 3, 041 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each), 14 bags of 50kg each of foreign sugar, 3 bales of secondhand clothing, 295 kegs of vegetable oil, 211 kegs of PMS (petrol) and 99 compressed book packs of Cannabis sativa (popularly known as Indian Hemp) among other items.
In the same vein, four (4) suspects were arrested in connection with smuggling of various prohibited items. Among the suspects, one has been arraigned at the Federal High Court Abeokuta and others will follow suit.”
Explaining on the impact of the seizures on the economy and the federal government’s ease of doing business order, Ajobo said: “Seizure of the above mentioned quantity of rice will surely impact on the Federal Government policy on agricultural development in the area of boosting local rice production. On the other hand, the seizure of petroleum product intended to be smuggled out of Nigeria by some unscrupulous elements is a sound bite to prospective/intending smugglers of such items. While the cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) seized have thwarted the devilish motive of some drug traffickers and addicts.”
The customs boss also spoke of his meeting with stakeholders in a bid to jointly fight and stop the menace of smuggling.
“Similarly, I have succeeded in meeting with critical stakeholders including neighboring colleagues of Benin Republic. Some of the stakeholders visited include: Head of Customs in Igolo of Benin Republic, Commissioner of Police Ogun state, Alake of Egbaland, Director DSS Ogun state, all heads of sister security agencies in Idiroko Border among other critical stakeholders. The aim of the visits is to promote synergy geared towards effective and efficient service delivery.
On your way coming to Idiroko, you must have noticed the aggregation of the numbers of checkpoints man by personnel of Nigeria Customs Service. This is a gigantic effort geared towards achieving one of the core functions of Customs (i.e trade facilitation) and to passionately key into the Federal Government Executive order on ease of doing business,” Ajobo explained.
Reinstating the commitment of the federal government and the NCS to promote hardwork and punish redundancy, Ajobo said officers of the command must brace up with the challenges ahead. He also warned officers of the command to desist from unprofessional conducts.
“Our desire for respecting and abiding by the rule of law was stressed to the Officers and Men assembled in our routine parade today. The Officers were reminded to desist from extortion, collusion and permissive behavior which will attract severe sanctions for any culprit, while hard work and exemplary behavior will henceforth be rewarded adequately,” the acting controller said.
