shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » Clearing Agents At Seme Decry Constant Smugglers Face-off With Customs, Border Porosity

Clearing Agents At Seme Decry Constant Smugglers Face-off With Customs, Border Porosity

by Joshua
December 12, 2022
in News

By Joshua Yousouph

Some Customs clearing agents operating at the Seme border have lamented the constant face-off between smugglers and the men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) around the border areas. This is even as they blamed this on the porosity of the border.

Customs seme

Speaking with our correspondent last week, a clearing agent at the border; Mr. Dele Tajudeen disclosed that there are over 50 unapproved entry and departure routes in bush paths between the border and Gbaji Bridge, along the Lagos-Seme international highway.

Tajudeen noted that over his three decades of working at the border, he has observed that the illegal routes are too many to be manned by the Customs. He said despite the vigilance and gallantry of the Customs officer at the border, smugglers still challenge the service.

He also hinted that most dare-deviled smugglers who smuggle petroleum products have suicidal and murderous tendencies and that they sometimes threaten to light-up the fuel and set both the officers and themselves ablaze.

In his words: “The smugglers are not only ready to kill, but also willing to die while in operation, especially those that smuggle fuel. They hardly run when the Customs officers strike. Instead they threaten to light up the fuel and set both the officers and themselves ablaze. And you should understand that the smugglers are also part of the Nigerian population that are multi-dimensionally poor. The Customs officers themselves are also human. They cannot go shooting and killing all the time”.

Another clearing agent who pleaded anonymity for obvious reasons, corroborated Tajudeen’s story and narrated a story of a Customs officer who almost lost his life to smugglers. According to him, the Customs officer whose name was given as MSA Abdullahi had taken the battle to the smugglers’ enclave at Gbaji village. He stated that immediately the smugglers sighted the Customs Patrol van, they trooped out in their numbers, armed with machetes, local guns, charms and other dangerous weapons.

Read Also:  NDLEA Intercepts Brazil Returnee With Cocaine, Other Substances

The clearing agent added that the smugglers attacked the officer and his men and in the process, Mr. Abdullahi sustained a serious injury on his left arm.

Another clearing agent and Board of Trustees’ Secretary or the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN); Mr. Innocent Elum, further advised the government to lift the ban on importation of automobiles through the land borders.

According to him, lifting the ban would reduce smuggling at the border and enable people who feed from the border activities to engage themselves legitimately.

“Government should allow importers to import through Seme by making necessary policy adjustments. The ban on importation of vehicles through land borders should also be reviewed. By the way, it is causing congestion in our ports and that comes with unnecessary increase in the prices of imported goods”, Mr. Elum said.

Other clearing agents at the border who spoke with our correspondent also called for a lift of the ban. Prince Charles Thomas and Mr Tino Esezebor were united in the view that the Federal Government should open the border for cargo clearance.

shippingposition

Kindly like us on Facebook/twitter


Tags: Clearing Agents

Related Posts

BREAKING: President Buhari Commissions Dala Inland Dry Port

BREAKING: President Buhari Commissions Dala Inland Dry Port

January 30, 2023
Despite Commissioning, Infrastructure Deficits Delay Actual Commercial Operations At Lekki Port By Months  

Despite Commissioning, Infrastructure Deficits Delay Actual Commercial Operations At Lekki Port By Months  

January 30, 2023
Suspense At CRFFN As Governing Council Considers Reappointing Nwakohu As Registrar    

Suspense At CRFFN As Governing Council Considers Reappointing Nwakohu As Registrar    

January 30, 2023
Lawyers Pessimistic About Maritime Bills Awaiting Passage, President’s Assent     

Lawyers Pessimistic About Maritime Bills Awaiting Passage, President’s Assent     

January 30, 2023

Latest News

LASWA Trains School Children in Riverine Public Schools in Epe Swimming Lessons 

LASWA Trains School Children in Riverine Public Schools in Epe Swimming Lessons 

January 30, 2023

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is “Shipped On Board” in Logistics?

SHIP TALK: Different Types Of Bill Of Lading

Shipping Company Sentenced in MARPOL Violation Case, Engineer Acquitted

INCREDIBLE: Boy Ends up Accidentally Traveling 1600NM in a Locked Shipping Container

Minister Hails Military’s Fight Against Piracy In Gulf Of Guinea

U.S. Naval Commander Attributes Drop In Piracy To Obangame Exercises

Here’s Welcoming Lekki Deep Seaport

Do you think the Federal Government is sincere about the CVFF disbursement?

BREAKING: President Buhari Commissions Dala Inland Dry Port

VESSELS EXPECTED AT LAGOS PORTS AS AT 30TH JANUARY, 2023.

Despite Commissioning, Infrastructure Deficits Delay Actual Commercial Operations At Lekki Port By Months  

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

Unhealthy Environment Causes 12.6m Deaths Worldwide, WHO Says
Health

Unhealthy Environment Causes 12.6m Deaths Worldwide, WHO Says

December 19, 2022

The World Health Organisation has said that the number of people estimated to have died as a result of living...

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Leaf

Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Bitter Leaf

December 12, 2022
More Women May Die During Childbirth In West Africa — Report

More Women May Die During Childbirth In West Africa — Report

December 12, 2022
The Many Wonderful Uses Of Onions

The Many Wonderful Uses Of Onions

December 5, 2022
Nigeria Yet To Achieve 70% COVID-19 Immunisation Coverage, Says NPHCDA

Nigeria Yet To Achieve 70% COVID-19 Immunisation Coverage, Says NPHCDA

December 5, 2022
COVID-19 Cases Increasing, Continue With Preventive Measures — UITH-ARD Warns

COVID-19 Cases Increasing, Continue With Preventive Measures — UITH-ARD Warns

December 5, 2022
Panic As Monkeypox Spreads To 32 States, Cases Now 604

Panic As Monkeypox Spreads To 32 States, Cases Now 604

November 28, 2022
Over 1bn Youths Risk Hearing Loss From Headphones, Loud Music — Study

Over 1bn Youths Risk Hearing Loss From Headphones, Loud Music — Study

November 28, 2022
Consuming Undercooked Meat May Lead To Tuberculosis — Epidemiologist

Consuming Undercooked Meat May Lead To Tuberculosis — Epidemiologist

November 28, 2022
Infertility Red Flags Men, Women Should Not Ignore – Experts

Infertility Red Flags Men, Women Should Not Ignore – Experts

November 28, 2022

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition