The Controller in charge of Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Zakka Audu, on Tuesday said that facilities at the command were being upgraded for effective monitoring of the high seas.
Audu told newsmen in Lagos that the command would soon receive some sea-going vessels.
The Federal Executive Council recently approved two sea-going vessels for the command in a bid to empower it.
The controller said that he was optimistic that facilities at the command would soon be of international standard
The Controller in charge of Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service; Mr Zakka Audu, on Tuesday said that facilities at the command were being upgraded for effective monitoring of the high seas.
Audu told newsmen in Lagos that the command would soon receive some sea-going vessels.
The Federal Executive Council recently approved two sea-going vessels for the command in a bid to empower it.
The controller said that he was optimistic that facilities at the command would soon be of international standard
Audu said that the command would undergo drastic changes whenever the vessels were released.
“Our jurisdiction is purely on water and creeks.
“Hitherto, we have been unable to reach the high seas, but with the approval of these vessels, our command will become more effective in monitoring the high seas.
“All the seizures we have been making so far have been in the creeks and rivers, while the smugglers bring in ships which they anchor on the high seas where we are unable to reach’’, he stated.
He said that an Assistant Comptroller-General was assigned by the Comptroller-General of Customs to inspect facilities at the command with a view to upgrading them.
Audu said that various capacity building programmes were currently on at the command.
The controller said that the training included the use of weapons, swimming classes and others.
Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of the command; Mr Zakari Chado, said the command recorded six seizures valued at N3.01million in September.
He said that the estimated duty paid value of the seized items was N3.21 million.
Chado said that the seizures included poultry products, rice and petrol.
He said that the seizures were made at Idiroko, Yekeme and Badagry.
He said that the items were abandoned on the waterways by smugglers on sighting customs patrol boats.
Discussion about this post