Tag Archives: Seme border

FG May Close Seme Border Over Smuggling

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Nigeria may close its borders with Benin Republic to stem smuggling of rice and other consumables as well as the illegal importation of weapons into the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who expressed government’s displeasure over the porosity of the Seme border, said, it has rubbished efforts of the present administration in diversifying the economy, especially, through agriculture. He warned that government may be forced to take very drastic measures.

Speaking in Abuja when the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, led by its chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, visited the ministry, yesterday, as part of its oversight functions, Ogbeh recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had threatened to shut the border but was prevailed upon by the then President of Benin Republic, Mr. Boni Iyayi, to rescind the decision.

“If that border will be a threat to the survival of Nigeria; we may decide to take very drastic action,” Ogbeh stated.

On his part, Senator Adamu urged government not to succumb to propaganda.

of those he described as powerful importers, who, according to him, “are bent on keeping farmers in foreign lands in business,” while their Nigerian counterparts live in penury.

He added that “the 70 percent tariff on rice should be maintained and progressed, proportionally, as the deadline for rice importation draws nearer.”

Credit:

http://sunnewsonline.com/smuggling-fg-may-close-seme-border/

Seme Customs Gets New Area Controller

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Comptroller Victor Dimka has been redeployed as the new Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Command, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

 

 

NAN reports that Dimka, who has assumed duty at Seme, was prior to now, the Controller, Federal Operations Unit, (F.O.U.) Owerri, Imo.

 

 

He told the officers and men of the command that his intention was to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.

 

 

The controller said that he would intensify his efforts toward more revenue generation.

 

 

Dimka told a group of licensed customs agents who paid him a visit that he still needed time to study what was in the handover note but assured his guests that “Seme border command is a familiar terrain to him’’.

 

 

He urged officers and stakeholders to realise that the challenge of dwindling revenue from crude oil sales had made it imperative for maximum revenue to be collected by the Customs.

 

 

According to him, we have to shape up to collect maximum revenue and suppress smuggling to the barest minimum.

 

 

“My predecessor has done a great job and I intend to even do more.

 

 

“I am committed to suppressing smuggling activities across the international frontier and to ensure that the fight against smuggling of poultry products would be sustained.

 

 

“All hands must be on deck in dealing with the challenges of manning a peculiar international border like Seme which is characterised by heavy vehicular movement and human traffic.

 

 

“All officers must follow the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs while discharging their statutory responsibilities.

 

“We must also perform well in terms of revenue generation, anti-smuggling drive, legitimate trade facilitation and the security of the nation through the effective manning of the border,’’ Dimka said.

 

 

The comptroller urged all officers to imbibe the culture of transparency and professionalism while discharging their responsibilities.

 

 

He warned that any act of negative conduct among officers would not be tolerated.

 

 

(NAN)