Umar, Customs Controller Tours Katsina Border Communities for Enhanced Security
Comptroller Muhammed Umar, in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service Katsina Customs Area Command has toured border communities in the state with a pledged to tackle transborder crimes to enhance national security and met with traditional rulers , business leaders and other security agencies.
In a press release by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tahir Balarabe, the Customs Area Controller visited the Jibia-Magama and Jibia-Maje border Stations in Jibia Local Government, Dankama border in Kaita Local Government, and Birnin Kuka border Station in Mashi Local Government Areas of the State and held interactive sessions with the Chairmen of the Local Government Areas, Leaders of various business Associations, and Traditional Leaders.
Comptroller Umar said members of the border communities in the state have a significant role in helping the NCS and other security agencies in the discharge of their role as regards trade facilitation and national security.
He explained that trans-border crimes such as arms smuggling, human and drugs trafficking orchestrated by economic saboteurs would be squarely tamed by the Command in order to strengthen national security for improved trade facilitation and economic development.
He further stated that officers are adequately motivated and re-oriented to execute their functions creditably and discretionally without compromise, adding that smuggling activities have to be confronted headlong in order to prevent revenue leakages.
According to him, “We are working with other sister security agencies to ensure that banditry, kidnapping, trans-border crimes, trading in small arms and light weapons are reduced to the barest minimum in border communities in the state.”
Addressing business leaders in Magama, Comptroller Umar made it clear that he was not deployed to Katsina State to jeopardize or block the state’s economic activities but to revamp it and promote trade without compromising national security.
He said the Magama border was strategic to NCS operations, and all borders around it represent a strategic gateway to not just trade and economic development but also for national security management.
He reiterated the NCS’ determination and commitment to continue to prioritize community relations across the state’s 12 border communities to re-smoothen the discharge of its constitutional mandates of revenue generation, facilitation of legitimate trade, and suppression of smuggling.
Responding on behalf of the business community, the Chairman of Jibia Local Government, Alhaji Bashir Maitan, urged the traders and other residents of the area to unite and work with the customs personnel for effective border management.
He called on the traders to come up with a united and accepted leadership that will highlight and itemize their concerns on issues affecting their businesses for onward delivery to the Customs’ Comptroller.
At the palace of Sarkin Sullubawan Katsina and District Head of Kaita, Yazid Abdulkareem Usman, the Comptroller solicited the support of traders in strengthening national security for improved trade facilitation and economic development in the state.
He told the gathering that farm produce like Hibiscus Sabdariffa, beans, maize, sesame seed, or beniseed, and millets are allowed to be sold in any market within and outside the state but should not be imported or exported. He, however, said the revolving and proactive approach of the Command’s enforcement unit will ensure that smuggling activities are maximally suppressed to enhance and boost revenue generation in the state.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler appreciated the state Customs boss for his visit while promising not to allow uncustomed goods into the state through the Dankama-Niger border for effective business to thrive.
The monarch charged traders in the area to channel their reactions appropriately to the government as the new administration would grant a listening ear to them and avoid taking laws into their hands.
Comptroller Mohammed Umar also had an interface with representatives of sister agencies within and outside the country in all the border communities visited during the familiarization tour.
