- As part of its effort to nip smuggling in the bud, Nigeria Customs Service has taken delivery of 50 vehicles
- The customs said apart from the 50 vehicles, approval has already been given for another 68 patrol vehicles
- The NCS expressed its gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and restated its determination to cripple rice smuggling
Twenty Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles have been issued out on Monday, June 11, by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The 20 vehicles issued by NCS are the first batch of the 50 vehicles which the service took delivery of, The Nation reports.
NAIJ.com notes that this was disclosed to newsmen at the customs headquarters in Abuja by the deputy comptroller general (enforcement, investigation & inspection), Aminu Dangaladima.
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Dangaladima said: “We appreciate the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and wish to restate our determination to do all it takes to ensure the actualization of the federal government agricultural policy for national food sufficiency by crippling rice smuggling.
“We are aware that apart from the 50 already supplied, approval has already been given for another 68 patrol vehicles in addition to 70 patrol vehicles being purchased for the joint rice task force.
The patrol vehicles will help customs to intensify its war against rice smuggling. Photo credit: The Nation
The patrol vehicles will help customs to intensify its war against rice smuggling. Photo credit: The Nation
The Nigeria Customs Service said it is awaiting more delivery. Photo credit: The Nation
“This unprecedented approvals making a total of 188 patrol vehicles in record time by the FG is the needed motivation to go all out and win the war against smugglers.
“For the avoidance of doubt, complaint traders have nothing to fear as our offensive will only be targeted at unpatriotic and non-compliant trans-border traders.
“In line with the directive of the comptroller general of customs, Colonel Hammed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), I urge all customs area comptrollers to ensure proper use of the vehicles to root out smuggling activities in their commands."
Dangaladima urged the members of the public, especially the border communities to support the customs' fight against smuggling by providing useful information to the service.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the crack team of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, discovered a new strategy being adopted by rice smugglers to beat law enforcement agents in the country.
Rice is one of the major areas focused on by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its effort to improve on agriculture.
Nigeria’s agricultural revolution kick-starts in Nasarawa state - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng