Customs Disbands Strike Force Teams, Seeks to Promote Best Practices, Trade Facilitation

Customs Disbands Strike Force Teams, Seeks to Promote Best Practices, Trade Facilitation

•Orders federal operations units to deal decisively with economic saboteurs

James Emejo in Abuja

The acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, yesterday approved the dissolution of CGC’s Strike Force Teams with immediate effect.

The customs boss also directed the Federal Operations Units to take over all their responsibilities across the federation henceforth.

A statement issued by the Customs Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the move was aimed at promoting best practices and enhancing trade facilitation.

Maiwada, said the development was in tandem with Adeniyi’s vision of ensuring result-oriented anti-smuggling strategies while facilitating legitimate trade.

He said the acting Customs CG has, therefore, given the marching order to Federal Operations Units and other anti-smuggling formations to use all the instruments of law available to discharge their duties.

Adeniyi, further directed strict adherence to the enshrined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and rules of engagement while dealing decisively with economic saboteurs.

Also, to ensure transparency and accountability, all anti-smuggling formations have also been mandated to boldly ascribe their names on all operational vehicles to checkmate the possibility of excesses, misconduct, and human rights abuse.

Adeniyi, had in his maiden address, stated unequivocally that all cumbrances and other obstacles to trade facilitation would be dismantled while fostering a new culture of consultation and compliance.

He read the riot act to economic saboteurs, insisting that the service cannot afford to allow them to take over the economy.

While he admitted that there were still some incidences of petrol smuggling in some border stations, he also noted that the rate of smuggling had reduced remarkably.

He said the service was paying close attention to cases of smuggling across the borders, adding that the issue of fuel remained highly sensitive.