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By Steve Agbota
The Ogun 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko, on Monday, said N1.51 billion loss incurred by smugglers could have improved Nigeria’s economy if channeled into legitimate trade.
The Command revealed that the huge amount lost recorded between January and October, 2023, has impact negatively on the economy.
Speaking at a symposium organised by the Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum (IPYF), titled; “Smuggling and Hoarding Of Petroleum Products: Effects On Border Communities and National Security,” the acting Customs Area Comptroller, Ahmadu Shuaibu, said the programme was an opportunity to inform and enlighten the border communities about the consequence of smuggling on the socio-economic wellbeing and national security of the country.
Shuaibu who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller, Administration of Idiroko Border, Charles Ogunesan, said smuggling retards the nation’s economic development, hampers social wellbeing and endanger national security.
“It is time smuggling is stopped considering the dangers inherent in it, the service has lost officers to death and permanent disability while locals have also been killed while enforcing anti-smuggling.The Command in conjunction with the youths, used the opportunity of this auspicious occasion to bring us all together, to inform and enlighten us about the consequence of smuggling on our socioeconomic wellbeing and national security.
“Over the years, the Command had recorded series of horrible and unwanted experiences in our line of lawful duties. These experiences range from blocking of access road by smugglers and their sympathisers, mob attacks of officers either going in pursuit of information or conveying seized goods to the government warehouses, skirmishes to altercation, which often result to casualties.
“We have lost a lot of officers to death and permanent disability while our dear communities had lost their members to the evil of this unfortunate demon called smuggling. It is high time we said no to smuggling considering the dangers inherent in it. It retards our economic development, hampers our social wellbeing and endangers our national security,” he explained.
According to him, from January of this year to date, for instance, the Command had made a seizure of goods worth N1.514 billion, adding that If such huge amount of money is well utilised for legitimate trade, it will no doubt improve the nation’s economy.
Shuaibu who reiterated that the security and development of the country is the responsibility of everyone, stated that the core mandate of the command is to generate revenue, suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade and secure our border lines.
“Similarly, the recent seizure of smuggled ammunition and the usual seizure of harmful substances like Cannabis Sativa (popularly known as Indian helm), among other dangerous goods, are good examples of threat to our social wellbeing and national security.
“Permit me to state empathically, that our core mandate in Ogun State is to generate revenue, suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade and secure our border lines. I want you to know that the security and development of our dear nation are the responsibility of us all,” he added.
Meanwhile, the keynote speaker, Barr. Kehinde Bamiwola, advised the government to reduce Customs duty and tariff on goods not locally produced in the country to reduce smuggling.
He, however, warned that any country whose import is more than export will be regarded as a dumping ground that will be bugged by high debt profile.
“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 and also promotes proliferation of fake, counterfeit or substandard items.
“To the Border communities, smuggling discourages education, industrialization and legitimate trade and antithesis to Agricultural development as well as tilting and disequilibrium the national income equation,” he said.
