Customs Rallies Border Communities for Enhanced National Security

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has solicited the support of border communities in order to strengthen national security for trade facilitation and economic development.

The Comptroller in charge of the Command, Muhammed Umar, who stated this while traversing border communities in the state, pledged to tackle all forms of trans-border crimes and improve the NSC community relations in border areas.

Umar,  according to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tahir Balarabe, visited the Jibia-Magama and Jibia-Maje border Stations in Jibia Local Government, Dankama border in Kaita Local Government, and Birnin Kuka border Station in Mashi Local Government Areas of the State.
During the visit, the statement said the comptroller held interactive sessions with the chairmen of the local government areas, leaders of various business associations, and traditional leaders.

Umar said members of the border communities in the state have a significant role in helping the NCS and other security agencies in the discharge of their role as regards trade facilitation and national security.

He explained that trans-border crimes such as arms smuggling, human and drugs trafficking orchestrated by economic saboteurs would be squarely tamed by the command in order to strengthen national security for improved trade facilitation and economic development.
He further stated that officers are adequately motivated and re-oriented to execute their functions creditably without compromise, adding that smuggling activities have to be confronted headlong in order to prevent revenue leakages.

 “We are working with other sister security agencies to ensure that banditry, kidnapping, trans-border crimes, trading in small arms and light weapons are reduced to the barest minimum in border communities in the state,” he said.

Addressing business leaders in Magama, Umar made it clear that he was not deployed to Katsina State to jeopardise or block the state’s economic activities but to revamp it and promote trade without compromising national security.

He said the Magama border was strategic to NCS operations, and all borders around it represent a strategic gateway to not just trade and economic development but also for national security management.

He reiterated the NCS’ determination and commitment to continue to prioritise community relations across the state’s 12 border communities to smoothen the discharge of its constitutional mandates of revenue generation, facilitation of legitimate trade and suppression of smuggling.

Responding on behalf of the business community, the Chairman of Jibia Local Government,  Bashir Maitan, urged the traders and other residents of the area to unite and work with the customs personnel for effective border management.