President Muhammadu Buhari, on
Tuesday announced a major reason Nigeria’s borders were shut some weeks ago.
Buhari made the disclosure in his
Independence Day broadcast to the nation.
The President said while Nigeria
would continue to do business with other countries, illegal movement of crude
oil will not be allowed.
He said: “We will also continue
our fight against illegal bunkering of crude oil and the smuggling of refined
petroleum products across our borders, including the diligent prosecution and
conviction of offenders found guilty of these acts.
“Whilst Nigeria remains committed
to free and fair continental and international trade, we will not hesitate to
take all necessary steps to tackle illegal smuggling, transshipment and other
predatory trade practices that destroy jobs in our country.”
Last week, the Comptroller-General
of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), retired Col. Hameed Ali, said the border
closure was to strengthen the nation’s security and protect its economic
interests.
He spoke at a meeting with
freight forwarders and security agencies at Seme.
Ali said: “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 stated that the freight
forwarders were critical stakeholders at the borders and urged them to ensure
compliance with the rules regarding transit of goods.
“We cannot do business without
you but compliance is lacking between you and our officers. Most of the things
we do, we don’t comply with rules and that’s why we end up with weapons; with
Tramadol that killed our children.
“We end up with ammunition that bandits
use to kill our people. We don’t manufacture ammunition in this country, if we
do it is only from one source and that source is well protected and documented.
“But today, we have seen many of
these ammunition in Nigeria, where are they coming from? They have compromised
with some of us and some of you.
“I say to our officers; those
weapons, bullets you facilitate in transiting into Nigeria, you don’t know who
will take it. Your mother, my children, your sisters might be shot by that
weapon,” the Customs boss said.
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