Senate on Tuesday indicted the Comptrollers of Customs in Kaduna, Katsina and Idiroko for jettisoning rules of engagement.
The indictment of Comptrollers in Katsina , Kadina and Idiroko was seuel to the report submitted by the Senate Adhoc Committee on Abuse of Forearms by Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service chaired by Senator Francis Fadahunsi.
In the report laid by Senator Fadahunsi, it was established that traders and non-traders are being made to.obtainn unofficial receipt before allow padsge with legitimate goods and it was also established that disbanded strike force of Federal Operation Unit shoot at innocent citizens , raidarkets and chased smugglers into towns which always lead to.loss of lives..
The Senate therefore asked the Customs Comptrollers General to investigate issuance of unofficial receipts at the nation”s borders by Officials of Nigeria Customs .
Fadahunsi while presenting the report which was unanimously adopted by the Senate said Federal Government should lift the 20km ban on sales of petroleum products in border communities.
Part of the report of the committee adopted by Senate reads, “Federal Government should direct the Comptroller General of Customs and Heads of other security agencies to as a matter of national inclusion, reduce the multiple checkpoints mounted along the corridors of border communities. This will enable the free flow of goods, especially farm produce, in, around and out of these Communities to the main towns and around the markets in the border communities.
“The Comptroller General of Customs should investigate and review the alleged issuance of unofficial receipt to traders and non-traders in Jibia and Mai’adua, Katsina State by officials of Customs and other security agencies. This act has caused untold hardship to people living in these communities, as moving of goods (farm produce) across major markets and even to Katsina town and other neighboring States is a herculean task.
“The Comptroller General of Customs should redeploy the Comptrollers of Kastina/Kaduna and Idiroko Area Commands, and appoint replacements who should establish a good community engagement programme. This will create a healthy relationship, make the Customs realize its mandate without being insensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Communities in the State.
“Federal Government should lift the 20km ban on sales of petroleum products in border communities. This policy is a threat to peaceful coexistence, a denial of the people to belong to the larger Nigeria society and a serious cause of hardship in these communities.
“. Federal Government in making policies, should put into consideration the ancestral bond/relationship that exists between the border communities in Nigeria.”
