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Border closure was not to hurt anybody —Customs CG
Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, retired Col. Hameed Ali, has explained that the closure of nation’s borders by Federal Government was not intended to hurt anyone.
Rather, he said it was necessary to strengthen security within the country and protect Nigeria’s economic interests.
Ali made this comment while speaking at a meeting with border stakeholders, comprising freight forwarders and security agencies on Thursday at Seme.
“Our interest is to make sure that our country is secure, the well-being of our people is ensured and our economy is secure.
“The step we have taken is in the interest of Nigeria, the step is not to hurt anybody but to protect our own interests as a nation,” he said.
The NCS boss stated that lots of things had gone wrong regarding compliance with the transit of goods, adding that the border closure was to ensure that things were streamlined so that all stakeholders would go back to doing the right things.
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He said the idea was to ensure that the protocol that was involved in the transit of goods and trade facilitation was adhered to.
“The operation is undertaken to ensure that we get things back in perspective; we know the right thing, it is well written, we are all aware of it, we used to practice it, so we must go back to that.”
Ali noted that the freight forwarders were critical stakeholders at the borders and urged them to ensure compliance with the rules regarding the transit of goods.
Others at the meeting were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Kayode Oguntuase, Comptroller General Immigration, Mohammed Babandede and Brig. Gen. E.A Ndagi, Coordinator of Joint Border Security Exercise, among others.
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