From Uche Usim, Abuja
In apparent response to the perennial cries of players in the Nigerian trading ecosystem, the acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the immediate dissolution of CGC’s strike force teams created by his predecessor, Hameed Ali, which many alleged were extortion platforms that impeded trade facilitation.
It was further alleged that most of those drafted into the CGC’s strike force totally disregarded basic standard operating procedures in performing their duties, leading to incessant clashes with importers and exporters.
Rather than have such CGC creations, the acting CGC has directed the Federal Operations Units to take over all their responsibilities across the country henceforth.
Customs Spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, who disclosed this in a statement said the move was in tandem with Adeniyi’s vision of ensuring result-oriented anti-smuggling strategies while facilitating legitimate trade.
The acting CGC, Maiwada added, gave the Federal Operations Units and other enforcement formations the marching order to use all the instruments of law available to discharge their duties to realise set objectives for which they were established.
“He also directed strict adherence to enshrined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and rules of engagement while dealing decisively with economic saboteurs.
“To ensure transparency and accountability, all anti-smuggling formations have also been mandated to boldly ascribe their names on all operational vehicles to checkmate the possibility of excesses, misconduct and human rights abuse.
“Recall that the acting CGC, in his maiden address, stated unequivocally that all encumbrances and other obstacles to trade facilitation would be dismantled while fostering a new culture of consultation and compliance”, the Customs Spokesman added.