A few weeks before  last Christmas, Customs officials at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos impounded two containers, which contained military rifles. The seizure was made on November 29, 2016 when the container, which the owners claimed contained personal effects was searched.

While investigation was still going on, a bigger catch was made on January 22, this year. This time, the consignment had been cleared from the port and the container was almost near its destination when operatives of the Customs Federal Operations Unit (FOU) in Ikeja, intercepted the consignment of 49 boxes containing a total of 661 pump action rifles concealed with steel doors and other goods in a truck on the Oshodi-Apapa expressway.

Three suspects were initially arrested, including the alleged importer, the clearing agent and a man escorting the truck to its destination.

The Customs made a big show of the seized illegal arms and

the Comptroller-General of Customs, Ahmed Ali, who displayed the suspected exhibits at the FOU Zone ‘A’ headquarters in Ikeja relished the fact that some of his roving men performed the magic.

Yes, Customs men intercepted the illegal weapons on the highway, but shouldn’t we be worried about the breach that made the arms sneak out of the port in the first instance without being detected despite the presence of all manner of security agencies at the port? And to think that our ports are almost regularly being targeted by unscrupulous importers of lethal weapons. Customs officers allegedly connected to the clearance of the illicit arms had also been arrested and were already being investigated.

What the Customs CG considered as heroic deed of his men was less so. I gathered that perhaps the seizure might not have been made if some people involved in the deal had not squealed after being shortchanged. If what happens normally is that nobody is cheated and nobody feels the need to complain, then the illegal consignment gets in whether it contains boxes of arms or bombs, then we are in serious trouble.

We are really in a mess if fellow citizens feel safe to import illicit weapons through our ports. And if boxes of rifles pass through the ports that are manned by the Customs and other security agencies, how much more our porous borders?

Not too long ago, the Nigerian government had difficulties purchasing weapons to fight the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east. But isn’t it ridiculous that Nigerian individuals would easily import a large cache of arms into the country?

What would be the motive for this evil importation really other than to fuel the insecurity across the country, that is reeling already under the weight of ethno-religious and electoral violence, cultism, armed robbery and kidnapping?

Someone should please tell those who are importing the lethal weapons that we have too many here already. They should not bother to bring in more.

Was it not last month that General Kakadu, one of the suspects arrested for the kidnap of students and staff members of the Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges in Isheri, Ogun State, revealed that his gang alone had 25 rifles? Add that figure to the ones in the hands of his fellow gang leaders, General O.C. and Agbala both of whom had 130 boys in their gangs. Also add the guns in possession of Fulani herdsmen and militias; armed robbers; political thugs; cultists and area boys. You will have the full picture of how much arms are in the hands of wrong people in our country. Honestly, I don’t believe we need more guns.

What the government needs to do is to devise new strategies to ensure that arms are no longer allowed to pass through our ports and land borders, let alone being intercepted by some angel Customs men on the highways.

The government may also consider a  mop-up. Declaring amnesty and asking people possessing illegal arms to surrender them and get paid for doing so.

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Our lawmakers may also look at our laws again. Maybe the laws against proliferation of arms are not tough enough. We need laws that will discourage anyone from venturing into importation of illicit weapons for whatever reasons.

Selflessness and patriotism appear to have taken flight in this country and change has not begun to touch the hearts of citizens who in their bid to make money for themselves do not care if the weapons they are importing would eventually end up in the hands of those who would use them to kill their own family members. Who will save Nigeria from Nigerians?


Re: Some lessons to learn from Trump

Please I read your column on Sunday 5th day of February 2017. I was fascinated with what you said about Nigerian government. They like to travel to other countries of the world and they see how governance is being carried to benefit the citizens but here the reverse is the case. Chinese nationals are here importing finished (products) goods produced from their country and deliberately refusing to bring the same factory into Nigeria. Nigerian government officials pretend they don’t know. Our economy cannot grow unless the leadership changes the insincerity in them.

–Mr. Martin Obiakor (your fan)

Abdulfatah, many Americans and non-Americans who were privileged to know a little about Trump’s past feared that Americans would pass through tough governance under him. But taking his “America-First” vision, which he tends to follow in practical terms into consideration, his term might in the end be adjudged a blessing to Americans. Such a set-vision by Trump is alien to Nigeria’s political leadership. Leadership vision ended with pre-independence political class when common problem of de-colonisation of Nigeria, was the main agenda of the leadership class. Thereafter, debilitating interests such as ethnic and religious sentiments  subsumed good political leadership thrust leading to clamour for restructuring, and by implication, stepping down on nationhood.

Let me recall the opening address of late Anthony Enahoro at the 2006 National Conference of National Reformation Party (NRP), as Chairman published in Vanguard January 2, 2007 page 9: A casual glance at the political terrain today will show even the most naive observer that we are at a crucial crossroads in our chequered journey to nationhood such that what we do or fail to do in the next few weeks could define our continued existence as one political entity. The grim facts are there for all to see on all aspects of our national life, from political to economic and social spheres, from our arid northernmost boundaries to the Atlantic Niger Delta creeks of  the deep south. That was ten years ago. Has the position not worsened with mindless killings of innocent Nigerians by “Fulani herdsmen”; with Buhari, APC’s government looking the other way and NASS keeping mum on it? Visionlessness unlike America Trump’s prevails in Nigeria hence the downturn in social and economic spheres leading to starvation and death of Nigerians. Any hope? None.

–Lai Ashadele.

Great outing today as usual Abdulfatah. You know the level of violence associated with Islam worries me and it is even more worrisome that Islamic nations don’t seem worried about the situation. In 95% of the cases where there is violence on earth you can count on Muslims to be behind it. Right now, Islam is the greatest threat to universal peace and while a true religion is to help in curbing human excesses, Muslims appear to encourage them. The Islamic world ought to rise to the occasion and allow humanity live in peace.

–08028253xxx

Abdulfatah, I thank you for seeing the need for us as Nigerians and particularly, our leaders to learn a lesson from Donald Trump’s approach to governance within these few days he has been in office. The points you marshaled authenticate your assertion. The usurpation of governance in Nigeria by the military personnel who were trained only to be subject to civil rule while protecting the territorial integrity of the nation, and the length of time the adventure lasted is solely responsible for the rotten situation the country is in today.

Yes, Trump might have brought some business approach to governance, but the major propeller is patriotism. Because Zik, Awo and Ahmadu Bello were patriotic, they agreed to a federal arrangement for the nation, which bought about landmark developments across the country within a short time and with limited resources.

The military came and saw Nigeria as a conquered entity, changed the focus of leadership from accountability to impunity. Nepotism, religious extremism and sectionalism were used to sustain themselves in power for as long as it lasted. We must bring back the regions, the teaching of history, civics, true federalism with resource control so that each people will develop at their own pace for us to be able to salvage what is left of Nigeria. Thanks.

–Emma Okoukwu.