Customs Declare Battle War Against Smugglers In Rivers, Deploy 18 Gunboats
LAGOS FEBRUARY 1ST (NEWSRANGERS)-Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, CGC,(Col) Hameed Ali (retd), last week inaugurated 18 gun boats and scanners in Rivers State.
The 18 gun boats, our Correspondent reports, would be used by the Eastern Marine Command, EMC, of the service to reduce to the barest minimum if not eradicate the menace of smuggling on Nigeria waterways, while the scanners were deployed for a smooth and seamless cargo documentation and clearance at Onne Seaport.
Ali, while speaking at the event, said: ” the addition of these 18 Creeks Patrol boats to the Service Marine arsenal at a time when more smugglers are running away from the heat on land to water is simply the right thing to do.”
He stated that the event would mark the beginning of a renewed offensive against those who chose creeks and waterways as safe haven for their illegal trade.
He explained that the 18 creeks patrol boats, consisting of 9 logistics support boats and 9 gun boats whose parts are armoured, should send clear signals to the criminals that the game is up; and underlined, “Unlike before, we now have boats with flat bottoms that can access the creeks even when the water has receded. ”
“In-line with the Executive Order on Local Content of 2017, NCS tapped into the ingenuity of a Nigerian Company, SEWA to design, construct and build these edifices. As you can see, these boats are not only built with our weather and circumstances in mind, they can compete with similar ones built anywhere in the world. “ Ali emphasised.
He reiterated, “The relationship between NCS and SEWA represents excellent examples of what Nigerians can achieve when we come together.”
Ali commended SEWA for delivering on their promise and has no hesitation to recommend them to individuals or organisations that need what they are capable of producing.
“As we commission these boats which will be deployed for the Southern waters, (the Eastern and Western Marine Commands), I urge our Marine Operatives to use them judiciously in the interest of the nation”.
The Customs boss reaffirmed the importance of the cooperation of all Nigerians in fighting smuggling.
“Let me state here that even with the best of working tools, NCS efforts will not yield maximum output, if Nigerians for which we work, do not give us needed cooperation. I therefore call on well-meaning individuals and organisations to give the Service credible information that will enable interception and seizures of smuggled items.”
Daily Independent
Short URL: https://newsrangers.com/?p=82561
Posted by News Rangers
on Feb 1 2022. Filed under Business, National.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
