Sir John Oforbike (ANLCA Chieftain)
Even in the Bible the tax collectors are subject of attack. There’s nothing more customs can do that they have not done, public enlightenment from time to time on the roles of Nigerians Customs Service in our national security and economy and nation building. All host communities along the border stations are looking at the customs as enemies to their communities’ God-given wealth. The communities are parts and parcel of smuggling activities booming along the border stations, Smugglers are very daring in their nefarious operations, ready to kill if anyone stands in their ways during their deadly operations. What government should do, is to build up a strong joint security team to work with the customs to make sure the borders are always secured. Although that will not completely stop the attacks on customs.
Barr. Emmanuel Ohambele (AREFFN Chieftain)
To improve its relationship with border communities, Customs can consider the following steps which include regularly engaging with border communities through town hall meetings, sensitization programmes, interpreting the new Customs Act and its punishment and cultural events to build trust and understanding. They should also work with community leaders and members to identify and address security concerns, promoting joint ownership of border security.
The Customs should provide training and capacity-building programmes for community members on Customs procedures, trade facilitation, revenue leakage and border security. They should also support economic development initiatives in border communities, such as trade facilitation, entrepreneurship programmes, and infrastructure development. Most importantly they should establish a grievance mechanism for community members to report concerns or complaints about Customs officers.
Simeon Nwonu (Deputy National President, NAGAFF)
On the issue of smuggling and the relationship with the border communities, Customs have to realize that fighting smugglers is not a child’s play. These smugglers are sophisticated in their business, they arm themselves with combating arms and they see it as a do or die affair. So, customs must equally understand this thinking of smugglers and as such, it is the responsibility of the Customs high command to equip those officers assigned to border posts.
These communities relate with smugglers. They provide habitation and hideouts for smugglers. Therefore, customs should take it as a responsibility to constantly communicate with the community chiefs. The chiefs relate with their own communities on how to help customs to combat smuggling. Also occasionally, customs can distribute some of these intercepted food items which are usually taken to the IDPs, to the people in the communities as palliatives. That will further help them to bring them out to fight smugglers and to combat smuggling business.
Taiwo Fatomilola (National PRO AREFFN)
The best way for customs to develop a good relationship with the people is to step down in their operations by not only focusing on revenue drive, but also have good human relations. That is the only area where people are hungry and angry. When there is a pressure from the customs that it must meet its own target, and the target they have met it and they still want to surpass the target, then the people will react.
Onyekachi Ojinma (ANLCA Chairman, Seme Border Chapter)
It is quite unfortunate that some Customs officers lost their lives. Anybody who still dies on government work just wants to kill himself. The Customs should use their initiatives. The border communities are suffering. Some of them are smuggling one or two bags of rice for their feeding and livelihood and the Customs will still go ahead and seize these goods from these poor residents. The Customs should use their initiatives and not punish the community. These are the major reasons behind most of the clashes between the villagers and the customs.
Anthony Onyike (National Vice President, NAFFAC)
Customs officers who are posted to border communities operate at high risk. It is very dangerous for them to go there to stop those smugglers. A smuggler at a certain point or at certain times of the night is ready to shoot. So, it’s something that has to do with a high level of risk. If you accept to go there, and you don’t play your card very well with those smugglers, one might face great danger. I’m not encouraging smuggling, but Customs officers must know how to engage the people and know how to effectively carry out their operations there. If you confront them, you’re confronting death. This is the advice I can give. But I think it’s so risky to stop smugglers who already know their route over there.
Festus Ukwu (National Secretary, NCMDLCA)
First, it is not the community people that killed those Customs officers. It is the smugglers. The customs have to improve their relationship with the communities they are working with, because if they improve their relationship with them, they could be giving them a tip-off or information on certain things from them. But when they don’t improve their relationship, it will make their operations difficult, laden with lots of clashes and attacks. If there is no cordial relationship between the Customs and the community dwellers, there’s no way they will approach the community for information or cooperation. The community dwellers know the smugglers.
Babatunde Mukaila (Former National Secretary, ANLCA)
The frequent clashes between smugglers at border communities and Customs can be resolved by engaging the critical stakeholders in the community about the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service as it pertains to the border areas. Also, these critical stakeholders should be educated on the extant import guidelines. I will advise the customs management to improve on these as collaboration and engagement with the community
