Anne Ejuka
The customs Area controller (CAC) of Ogun Area 1 command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Dera Nnadi has promised to broker a synergy with the Ogun state government towards the eradication of incessant clashes between the personnel of NCS and the people at the border areas of the state.
The synergy, according to the CAC would help to facilitate trade and promote peaceful coexistence among the people; the CAC gave the assurance when he paid a courtesy call on the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in his office in Abeokuta recently.
Comptroller Nnadi who described the state as important for not only being a gateway to the nation but a trade route that cut across the country, informed that the state also serve as the fourth largest contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic product (GDP).
According to the CAC, Ogun State, through Idi-Iroko has served as a trade route between Nigeria and Benin Republic for long, but regretted that it has now become a war zone as a result of smuggling activities; He said though he was in the state to enforce the Federal Government policy, but was ready to change the negative narratives by ensuring that his men observed the rule of engagement by exercising restraint when dealing with people and cautioned against unruly behaviour from the citizenry against Customs men to forestall skirmishes.
The Custom boss assured that his command would work with the State government but not allow any incursion into the nation’s territory, he called on government to look in the Igholofi issue as it has not been resolved.
While seeking for the cooperation of the people of the state in order to surmount the herculean task ahead, Nnadi explained that the reason behind the visit was to intimate the governor about his plans and to seek for his cooperation and collaboration to put an end to the sour relationship between the customs personnel and the people of the state, warning the residents to desist from attacking customs officials while preforming their statutory duties, Nnadi noted that it is always difficult and dangerous to attack a man carrying a gun promising that all hands will be in glove’s in ensuring that peace reign at the border posts.
In his response, the State Governor, called on men of the Nigeria Customs Service, to discharge their duties with human face by being civil when dealing with members of the public, noting that it is only when the Custom men treat people with dignity, that they would cooperate with them, saying, "please find a way to discharge your duties with human face be civil when you are dealing with the people to minimize lose of lives. It is only when you treat people with respect that they will cooperate and give you support that you need to carry out your assignment".
According to him the Customs must change the rules of engagement. “You cannot engaged in shooting in the markets or on the roads which in most cases result to death and expect the people to cooperate with you. This actions lead to mistrust. People are going through hard times and there is pent up anger everywhere, So our law enforcement agencies need to exercise restraint when enforcing the Law” the Governor said.
The governoe noted that people in the border areas have lived and engaged in trans border commercial activities for long, saying that some recent policies of the federal government which the Nigeria Customs is expected to enforce have led to skirmishes between the Customs and the people.
The Governor called for truce between residents and the customs personnel expressing delight that the new Customs boss who has worked in the State before his recent appointment came up with a mission aimed at changing the narrative of incessant clashes as a result of smuggling activities.
While speaking on the incursion into Nigeria by one of her neighbours, the state helmsman said the state has met with the Attorney General of the Federation and Office of the Vice President which is in charge of border matters on the issue, stating that it was imperative to put a stop to frequent harassment of the people of the State by foreigners.
The governor assured the customs boss of his utmost support foe him in discharging his duties diligently and effectively as part of the vision of the current administration at the gateway state in achieving a proactive security arrangement for the safety of people working and living in the state being the industrial hub of the nation.