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Border Closure: Customs meet Rice farmers in Kaduna, to protect local farmers

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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘B’ Federal Operations Unit (FOU), has seized 250 parcels of goods amongst other smuggled goods worth N275.989 million between Dec. 22, 2021 and Jan. 27.

…As Fashola says Cashless toll plazas coming, to protect Government revenue***

The Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday held a meeting with rice farmers in Kaduna State on the importance of the closure of Nigeria’s borders to national food security.

The Customs Public Relation Officer, Joseph Atta, said that the interaction was meant to garner support for border closure, an operation, principally meant to protect local farmers.

He told the farmers that the Federal Government was compelled to take the action after neighbouring countries failed to respect an agreement to block smuggling of goods into Nigeria.

Atta recalled that Nigeria even bought patrol vehicles to support its neighbours in protecting their end of the border, but nothing much was done to stop the smugglers.

He said that the border closure was not only necessary in ensuring national food security, but also the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.

Public Relations Officer of NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah

 

“The issues of light weapons, kidnapping and banditry, make Nigeria less secure and are affecting the nation’s economy especially the Agric sector,” he noted, highlighting government’s mindset to promote agriculture and stopping dependence on smuggling by taking deliberate steps, while wishing the investments to translate into appropriate growth.

The NSC spokesman however said that in spite of the genuine desire of government, neighbouring countries with the connivance of some unpatriotic Nigerians have continued to allow foreign items to be smuggled into the country, thereby causing massive losses to local farmers.

He stressed that the continuous patronage of smuggled rice only led to loss for local farmers and reduction in anticipated job growth.

Also read: Border closure: Kano industrialist lauds FG, urges more support for local rice farmers

“When drugs are allowed into the country it lead to lots of challenges; smugglers are taking advantage of the border to create havoc.

“We have a decisive government taking decisions to ensure that the nation security is secured,

“All the security agencies are now working together in unity to ensure that the country’s borders are secured,” he said.

Atta spoke further: “Our country cannot continue to take decisions that will continue to empower other people while our country suffers.”

According to him, border closure and surveillance have led to the arrest of 146 illegal immigrants, seizure of 18,759 bags of 50kg foreign rice, 131 bags of MPK fertilizer, cartridges.

Others include 4765 jericans of vegetable oil and bales of used clothing and shoes, as well as two trucks filled with petroleum products.

In his comments, the state Secretary of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Mr. Ishaya Audu expressed their total support for the government action and advised Nigerians to always patronize local foods for healthier growth.

He appreciated the federal government for providing many opportunities for Nigerians especially in the area of agriculture, particularly rice production.

“It has created a lot of jobs for the youth, and graduate are also into farming due to federal support,” the RIFAN secretary said.

The State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Zubairu Galadima-Suba described the partial border closure as necessary to the efforts of boosting food security particularly, rice in the country.

He said the policy would eliminate the importation of toxic rice and encourage Nigerians to consume local rice which is good for their health.

Galadima-Soba explained that the objective of the policy was principally to empower indigenous farmers, and urged the public to support it.

In another development, the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola  says Federal Government has concluded designs for the return of toll plazas on Federal roads.

Fashola disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister said that, though the government dismantled toll plazas in the past, there was no law abolishing tolls.

“Let me just clarify this impression about toll gates; there is no reason why we cannot toll; there is no reason.

“There was a policy of government to abolish tolls; to dismantle toll plazas but there is no law that prohibits tolls in Nigeria today.

“We expect to return toll plazas; we have concluded their designs; of what they will look like; what material they will be built with; what new considerations must go into them.

Minister for Power, works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

 

“What we are looking at now and trying to conclude is how the back-end runs and that is important because we want to limit significantly if not totally eliminate cash at the plazas while ensuring that electronic devices that are being used do not impede rapid movement.

“We are also now faced with the need to acquire more land to establish the width of the toll plazas because I believe that we are looking at a 10-lane plaza so that there can be more outlets and then they merge; so we need to acquire more land.’’

He however, said that the expectation that collection of tolls would produce the replacement cost of the road was not accurate.

Fashola said that the traffic toll count that the ministry had done on major highways did not suggest that there was enough vehicular traffic across all routes.

According to him, the two or three heavy routes are Lagos-Ibadan; Abuja-Kano, Abuja-Lokoja.

“In Lagos-Ibadan, the heaviest traffic you will find is between Lagos and Sagamu; about 40, 000 vehicles; after Sagamu heading to Ibadan, it drops to about 20,000.

“So, most of it has gone eastwards going towards Ondo, Ore and by the time you get to Benin, the number significantly drops; it ratchets up again at the confluence where they are heading towards the Niger; so you can see that it is not a static 50,000 all the way.

“Same thing with Abuja-Kano-Zaria; after Kaduna, the traffic significantly drops; it is about 40,000 there too; after Kaduna, it begin to drop by the time you get to Zaria.

“If you have driven on that road before, by the time you are driving between Zaria and Kaduna, you will notice how thin the recurring number of vehicles you meet is and as you begin to head closer between Kaduna and Abuja, the number of vehicles begins to increase.

“I think it is important to have that at the back of our minds; not all roads have that traffic count,’’ he said.

The minister said that government’s move toward the tolls return was not accidental as it was being deliberate and methodical with what it was doing.

 

 

Health and Safety

NDLEA, NBA Hail Comptroller Idris For Tackling Smuggling, Drug Trafficking

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NDLEA, NBA Hail Comptroller Idris For Tackling Smuggling, Drug Trafficking

The Katsina Customs Area Command, Controller, Abba-Aji Idris, has been hugely commended by the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for his proactive efforts in tackling cross-border crimes, particularly smuggling and drug trafficking.

In a press statement signed by the Command’s Acting Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs Bello Isah, on 31 October 2024, both agencies were reported to have praised Comptroller Idris during recent engagements with the Command, recognising his role in strengthening border security and public awareness.

The newly appointed NDLEA Commander for Katsina, Abubakar Aminu, already paid a courtesy visit to Comptroller Idris at the Customs House in Katsina on 30 October 2024. 

During the visit, he specially commended the Customs Command’s extensive efforts to raise public awareness of the dangers of smuggling and drug trafficking.

“The purpose of this visit is to assist the Comptroller in any way possible,” Commander Abubakar stated, emphasising the NDLEA’s alignment with the Customs Command’s objectives to protect the state from illegal cross-border activities.

Comptroller Idris, in his response, expressed appreciation for the NDLEA’s show of support, describing the visit as a timely reinforcement of Katsina Command’s mission. He detailed several strategies he has implemented since taking office, underlining the Command’s ongoing dedication to safeguarding Katsina State’s borders.

Similarly, the Katsina State Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by the Chairman, Barrister Shafiu Umar, also acknowledged Comptroller Idris’ contributions to public security. 

During their visit to the command, Barrister Umar applauded the Comptroller’s active engagement with the community and his public enlightenment campaigns, noting the NBA’s commitment to supporting legal cooperation and awareness efforts in alignment with the Command’s anti-smuggling objectives.

Comptroller Idris expressed his appreciation to the NBA delegation for their support and pledged to work closely with the association to enhance the command’s operational goals further. 

He particularly emphasised the importance of community partnerships in achieving lasting success, against border-related crimes.

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Health and Safety

CYBERCRIME: Be More Disciplined and Mindful In Your Choice of Words, Police Cautions Journalists

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CYBERCRIME: Be More Disciplined and Mindful In Your Choice of Words, Police Cautions Journalists

…Says Words are sometimes sharper than Swords

The National Cybercrime Centre – Nigeria Police Force has stressed that the word is sometimes sharper than the sword and warned journalists to be more disciplined and mindful in their choice of words online.

 The Acting Assistant Director of the Cybercrime Centre, SP Abubakar Smart, advised at a cybercrime workshop organised for journalists by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on Thursday at the International Maritime Press Centre, Apapa, Lagos.

 Smart stressed that the pen could be sharper than the knife and therefore warned that journalists should ensure that whatever they push out online would not get them in trouble.

“What strikes the mind of people when we talk of cybercrime is internet fraud but it is more than that.

“Today, it has become a global threat due to the way we use digital technology, the nature of our work and the way we interact online.

“Journalists need to be well-informed about the Cybercrime Act of 2015, as amended, to be more educated about cybercrime so as not to fall victim,” he said.

Smart described cybercrime as any criminal activity done in cyberspace on any social media platform.

He listed them to include bullying, stalking,  fraud, identity theft and phishing.

“The punishment for cybercrime can be up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to N10 million and asset forfeiture.

“We should be aware of regulatory agencies responsible for ensuring the cyberspace is free.

“Some of them are the National Cybercrime Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,” he said.

In his paper presentation, Dr Layinka Adagun, a veteran journalist and Mass Communication Lecturer at Lagos State Polytechnic urged journalists not to be desperate to be superstars.

He said that the zeal to confirm exclusive stories and the persistence to get information first could make some run foul of the cybercrime law.

Adagun said that some media professionals had a misconception that their daily activities, particularly intellectual outputs were removed from Internet governance.

“The internet has become a global tool for everything including a channel for freedom of expression but sadly, the freedom that the internet depicts is now being attacked and users intimidated.

“We all need to safeguard our access and activities on the electronic highway,” he said.

He said that cybercrime could be avoided, reduced or eliminated through a combination of individual awareness, organisational measures and technological solutions.

“Some strategies are: to educate ourselves on cybercrime, use strong passwords, be cautious with links and attachments, keep software up-to-date, and implement cyber security policies,” he said

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Health and Safety

Why NCoS Affirms Suspension Of Senior Officers

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Why NCoS Affirms Suspension Of Senior Officers

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has warned that any further attempt by its officers to pull the wool over the public eyes, may be treated as an act of gross misconduct and thus, attract serious sanctions 

The NCoS emphasized this in a statement made available by the Public Relations Officer and image maker, Assistant Controller of Corrections, Umar Abubakar, specifically calling attention to a public reaction of one of its officers, to a recently trending video.

“The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been drawn to a trending video of one of its senior officers purporting that the Service has not served him a letter of suspension as earlier directed by the Civil Defence, Correctional Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB)”, the statement indicated, adding:

“The Service views this as an act of gross misconduct aimed at misleading the public on the issue at hand.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Correctional Service suspended not only the said officer in the video, but three (3) other officers following their alleged roles in various misconducts to allow for further investigation.

“The suspended officers are the officer-in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Sikiru Adekunle; the officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Michael Anugwa; the officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT command, DCC Kevin Ikechukwu Iloafonsi; and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC II) Ogbule Samuel Obinna of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abakiliki, Ebonyi state”, the statement further indicated.

It would be recalled that two letters were issued by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services board (CDCFIB) with reference nos: CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.II/16 and CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.II/17 both dated 26th September, 2024, suspending the aforementioned officers.

 The suspension which took effect from the 26th of September, 2024, was conveyed to the various officers accordingly. 

The Image maker consequently advised the public to remain resolute as the Service would ensure that a thorough investigation would be carried out and any person or group of persons found culpable would be punished in line with the Public Service Rules as well as other extant laws.

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