By Adebayo Taiwo Adebola

It will recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service on the 20th of August, 2019to be precise partially closed it’s border for betterment of the nation’s economy and for the neighboring countries to abide by ECOWAS Protocols. The anti-Smuggling Czar Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba was recently posted to join border operations drill, North central zone, sector-3 Illorin, kwara state. He took over from ACG Aminu Dahiru and he has since assumed duty. While paying courtesy visit to Coordinators office, Kwara state Speaker House Of Assembly, Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi in company of Chairman House Committee on Education and Human capital Development Hon. Mohammed Baba Salihu, expressed concern over the hardship of fuel scarcity presently being faced by the four (4) district of Baruten Local Government area of the state, (Ilesha Baruba-Okuta Chikanda axis). He appealed to the sector coordinator to consider the decision of fuel supply 20km to border communities, as litre of petroleum is being sold between 250-300 Naira. He said the decision is taking too toll on his people and the hardship is gradually becoming unbearable. Compt. Mohammed Uba Garba expressed satisfaction for the speaker to take the bull by it’s horn by coming forward to chart a way forward for his people which mean he is a great leader who is concerned about his people. He declared that partial border closure was not to witch-hunt or obstructs any legal business nor any community but to prevent illegal exportation of petroleum products, encourage local famers , control the inflow of arms and ammunition, illicit drugs and all other prohibited goods to the country and to also enable the neighboring countries to obey the ECOWAS PROTOCOL. The Comptroller who is posted from Seme Area Command to sector three (3), said the Nigeria Customs Service is just an implementer of federal government policies and advised that the state government should channel their grievances through the appropriate quartets. The Comptroller concluded that he will soon be visiting the border communities, during the visit, he will use the opportunity to meet with those who are into legitimate business, as he can’t rest on it’s oars particularly at this critical time of our national life as the myriad of irregular migration and transborder crimes such as smuggling of small arms,and light weapons, petroleum product, human trafficking, drugs trafficking and terrorism among others must be tackled headlong and that was what informed the the federal government to closed it’s border, as most of those who engage in smuggling never see it as a crime.