Customs to demolish illegal properties in Lagos border area

THE management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Command has launched an aggressive cleanup initiative to reclaim Customs land from illegal occupants and land grabbers in Seme area of Lagos State, as well as rid the land border community of impostors and touts.

According to a statement signed over the weekend by the Seme Customs Command Spokesman, Selchang Taupyen, the initiative is aimed at giving Seme Customs Command an improved ambience in line with international land bother appearance.

According to the statement, the Customs Area Controller of Seme Command, Compt. Mohammed Aliyu said all illegal occupants of Customs land should vacate the land immediately and remove their structures.

This is even as the CAC warned of imminent demolition of all illegal structures, hinting that the Customs headquarters is determined to ensure that Seme acquires the right international border outlook that meets the regional and international standard.

The statement reads in part: “The Customs Area Controller, Compt. Mohammed Aliyu, who has taken many decisions that have hitherto led to the unprecedented successes recorded in the operation and administration of Seme Command is still taking some proactive steps to give Seme main border an international appearance.

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“Critical amongst the decisions is the patriotic initiative and action of reclaiming the Seme Command Customs land that has over the years been encroached on illegally by unscrupulous individuals without approval.

“The Customs Area Controller with the consent of the headquarters is sanitizing the gateway corridor that used to wear a picture that does not meet an international outlook nor meet the global standard compared to other international land borders within the West African sub-region.

The command helmsman said he is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that illegal structures are demolished and those with approval re-directed to update their status by routing their requests to the Comptroller General of Customs through the Customs Area Controller.”

The statement further stated that the land which was gazetted in 1978 by the Land Act decree of the Federal Government of Nigeria would not be allowed to be taken over by anyone and urged all illegal occupants to make haste and quit before it is too late.