Newly appointed Customs area controller in charge of Kano and Jigawa states, Alhaji Usman Kankara Bello (a Comptroller) has promised hard times for smugglers and economic saboteurs who operate within the tow states.
He assured that the states can no longer offer opportunities for smugglers even as he disclosed that he has tasked his men, particularly those in
the border communities to effectively block all illegal channels, pointing out that as part of measures to effectively fight smugglers, he has requested for additional operational vehicles and other equipment from Customs headquarters; especially to man the border communities of Maigutari Achilafia, Jeke and Babura; all in Jigawa State.
The new controller stated this recently at the command’s head office while taking over control from the outgoing area controller, Alhaji Dan-Alkali Abdullahi who has been moved to the Customs head quarters Abuja to oversee the Customs intelligence unit of the service.
UK Belo as he is fondly called was recently promoted to the rank of Comptroller and was subsequently retained as Customs Area Controller in charge of Kano/Jigawa Area Command, where he had earlier served as Deputy Comptroller (Enforcement) and later Administration.
In the brief but colourful handing over ceremony, the new comptroller pledged to strive to make the command great by improving upon the achievement of his predecessor, especially in the area of revenue generation and anti-smuggling activities.
Apart from the issue of smuggling, the new controller also lamented the low level of activities at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). “Our problem for now is the low human and cargo traffic at MAKIA which is among the command’s revenue generation areas and this situation creates some kind of concern, as just few flights ply the Kano airport route”
Bello said, he would hold discussions, with stakeholders; management of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); airline operators and cargo handlers on the way forward, “so that together we can work out ways of attracting more flights to Kano Airport”
He however disclosed that consultations with stakeholders have started eliding results adding that Morocco Airlines has concluded arrangements to come on board, while Saudi Arabia is to introduce more cargo flights on the route, coupled with the recent launch of Kabo Airline’s Dubai – Jedda flight.
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