ARMS IMPORTATION: President Buhari, CG Customs, Others Leave For Turkey Today

 As reported on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari would be travelling to Turkey for a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and officials of that country’s Customs, it was confirmed yesterday that the President will leave today.
Although, the President will be attending the ninth D-8 Summit to be hosted by Turkey, he is also billed to have a meeting with his Turkey counterpart.
It was reported on Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari would travel to Turkey with the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd). Part of their mission is to unravel those behind arms importation to Nigeria from Turkey.
Hinting at the impending travel to newsmen in Abuja last weekend, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Aminu Dangaladima, had confirmed that the meeting is aimed at finding a permanent solution to the influx of arms into Nigeria.
Dangaladima had said, “Let me seize this opportunity to inform you that we are making progress on investigation in the illegal arms importation.
“More arrests have been made and the CGC will be on the entourage of Mr. President to Turkey for sideline bilateral meeting with the Turkish Customs Authority.
“This is with the aim to permanently deal and put an end to such deadly importation coming from Turkey.”
But, yesterday, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina confirmed the President’s trip to Turkey.
Adesina said prior to the D-8 Summit, Buhari, at the invitation of President Erdogan would be on working visit to Ankara, the capital city.
He said during the visit, the President would have a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, while delegations from both countries would hold discussions in various fields including defence cooperation, security, educational and migration issues.
He also confirmed that, the president will be accompanied by ministers, top government officials, including the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali.