Coup: FG bans Niger-bound transit cargoes from land borders, seaports

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has said the Federal Government has directed the Service to halt all transit cargoes heading to Niger Republic through all land borders and seaports across the country.

This comes as an earlier report had it that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had sanctioned Niger Republic after presidential guards toppled Mohamed Bazoum and announced Abdrahmane Tchiani, as new president.

To this end, ECOWAS announced border closure against Niger Republic and Nigeria Customs Service on Friday, began enforcement of the directive by shutting the Nigerian- Niger Republic borders across the seven northern states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina Jigawa, Yobe and Borno.

Giving the directive to officers, on Sunday, when he paid a working visit to the Ogun 1 Command of the Service, Idiroko, Ogun State, the Ag Customs CG, said since the closure of the Nigerian- Nigerien borders, transit cargoes may be smuggled through other land border posts in the country.

According to him, all transit cargoes headed for Niger Republic through the other land borders including Idiroko must be stopped.

“I can assure you that implementation of that directive given by the ECOWAS head of states is 100 per cent and when that is happening, smugglers will want to explore openings in other borders, and may want to use other routes. All transit goods heading for Niger Republic should be stopped.

“This time, we need to be vigilant because those bent on destabilising the country are still at work. This is a reminder that we can’t afford to rest on our oars as our level of alertness must be 100 percent. You must synegise and cooperate with other agencies of government to achieve this,” he said.

The Customs boss, however, disclosed that with the removal of fuel subsidy, the service would see to the review of the policy on supply of fuel to filling stations that are 20 kilometres to the nation’s borders.

He also hinted that the service will review some of its policies if the compliance level of the border communities is high.

“There are a number of issues that our border communities have put across to us which goes beyond the mandate of the Customs service. We are working with the appropriate authorities of government and we will be requesting the review of such polices if the situation warrants it

“If there is compliance of extant law regarding import and export and if we see the support of the communities, we’ll make appropriate recommendations for the review of border closure and importation of tokunbo vehicles through the borders,” he said.