Ban on importation of cars through borders’ll curb arms proliferation —Customs boss

THE Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd), has declared that the ban placed on importation of vehicles through land borders would curb proliferation of small arms and ammunition in the country.

He further submitted that apart from the economic aspect, national security was fundamental to the ban and informed that a total of 6,190 seizures of assorted components, including arms and ammunition were made by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2016.

Fielding questions from journalists shortly after the celebration of this year’s International Customs Day held at the Customs Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Colonel Ali stated the ban was meant primarily to boost Nigeria’s economy, adding that the country’s security was also a fundamentally important aspect of the ban.

“We want to boost the economy of the nation. We want to bring back those monies that are being taken outside back to this nation.

“Most especially, we want to improve the security of this country because we have discovered that through the importation of these cars, through the borders, in most of them, smuggled arms and ammunition are being squeezed and driven into this country.

“That is why we have proliferation of small arms and we cannot continue like this. Apart from the economic aspect, security is fundamentally important in what we are doing,” he stated.

He declared that though the implementation of the policy was a few days old, it was coming on well, submitting, however, that it took time for stakeholders key in into such policies.

Colonel Ali (retd) further disclosed that through its automated process, the Customs was able to generate N878,673,857,451,07, including Value Added Tax (VAT) for the country last year.

“In terms of what we have achieved so far, we are grateful. I think it is coming on well. It only takes time to get this thing really driven into our stakeholders,” the customs boss stated.

He informed that having been aware of the importance of data analysis to its operation, the Customs deployed ICT in its operations, adding that it was through this that NCS was able to make a total of 6,190 assorted seizures, including arms and ammunition and other dangerous items in 2016.

Colonel Ali (retd) further disclosed that through its automated process, the Customs was able to generate N878,673,857,451,07, including Value Added Tax (VAT) for the country last year.

“NCS is aware of the importance of data analysis to its operations. Through such activity, the Service was able to collect a total of N878,673,857,451.07, VAT inclusive and made total of 6,190 assorted seizures in 2016 including spectacular seizures of arms and ammunition and other dangerous items,” Ali informed.