Customs Service, retried Col. Hameed Ali has insisted that all import and export of goods from the nation’s land borders remain banned until there is an agreement with neighbouring countries on the kind of goods that should enter and exit Nigeria.

According to him, the measure is for the security agencies to be able to scan the goods entering the country.

He maintained all goods must only enter through the legitimate air and sea ports where they can undergo thorough scanning and certified fit for consumption.

According to him: “We hope that by the time we get to the end of this exercise, we would have exactly between we and our neighbors agree on the type of goods that should enter and exit our country.

“For now, all goods, whether illicit or non-illicit, are banned from going and coming into Nigeria.

“Let me add that for the avoidance of doubt that we included all goods because all goods can equally come through our seaports.

“For that reason, we have deemed it necessary for now that importers of such goods should go through our controlled boarders where we have scanners to verify the kind of goods and how healthy to our people can be conducted.”

The Customs boss broke the news in Abuja during a joint press briefing on joint boarder patrol that is codenamed ‘EX-SWIFT RESPONSE.”

The Ex-SWIFT RESPONSE is coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) comprising the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to address trans-boarder security issues.

He insisted that despite the rights for movement of persons the enabling ECOWAS protocols, there must be primacy of security over such rights.

Ali, who was asked whether the Federal Government had not breached the rights of the citizenry to movement and international trade, said that “when it comes to security, all laws take back a seat.

“We want to our nation, we want make sure that our people are protected. You must be alive and well for you to begin to ask for your rights. Your rights come when you are well and alive.

“Go and the people in Maiduguri when Boko Haram was harassing their lives, the only question was survival, there is no question of right. This time Nigeria must survive first then before we begin to ask for our rights.”

Details shortly…

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-customs-orders-complete-border-import-export-ban/

While northern borders remain open right?

As Niger republic continues to enter unhindered.

"Told dem biko". Smugglers and lovers of cheap rice can do the necessary.
No compromise this time, squeeze them harder

Ndibunna:
While northern borders remain open right?

As Niger republic continues to enter unhindered.

Have you been to any northern border?

But how come there's no ban on d influx of aliens from Niger and Chad ? How com herdsmen and BH and armed militias can all comfortably migrate between countries and states.. Rice business is booming in d North

Nbotee:
But how come there's no ban on d influx of aliens from Niger and Chad ? How com herdsmen and BH and armed militias can all comfortably migrate between countries and states.. [b]Rice business is booming in d Nort[/b]h

Give us proofs with links

All they know how to do is ban! Think kwanu, iro o! Hameed is talking seaports? How many we get? What seaport? We have just one that is completely choked and inefficient. Will edible food not get rotten before they get cleared into or out of the country? Nigeria just hates to run with efficiency because the idiots at the helm of affairs will be required to think and actually use their heads so they rather create more difficulties with the archaic methods, enriching themselves further while making bogus declarations of income into state coffers! They claim reduction in smuggling of petroleum products for instance so if they don't close borders, relevant security agencies cannot do their work? What then are they getting trained and paid for?

They should simply set up more automated systems at land borders, embed strict accountability procedures, open up other seaports and provide durable infrastructure especially electricity and good transport systems to reduce the unnecessary and frustrating delays/bottlenecks! I don't know when we will have proactive, intelligent leaders in this country that are ready to think and do the work!

You can just imagine the nonsense! See them budgeting multiple billions for generators and fueling to provide electricity yet we import refined petrol, diesel and generators! Why not ban the importation of those items (generators and refined petroleum products) to boost our local production and improve electricity supply? Mad goats in power!

Nbotee:
But how come there's no ban on d influx of aliens from Niger and Chad ? How com herdsmen and BH and armed militias can all comfortably migrate between countries and states.. Rice business is booming in d North

If you have legitimate goods for importation, go through the sea ports. Is that too hard to understand?

These immigration officers are rotten beyond repair. You can't depend on them for adequate scrutiny on our land borders. Case closed!

What Nigerian govt need to do is to place so much tariffs on rice importation hence generate more revenue.After all that is what the customs are there for.

What now becomes of Nigeria's fate on the ECOWAS free-trade agreement.Meanwhile northern Nigerian borders are opened to Terrorists, killer herdsmen, armed bandits, etc

Racoon:
What Nigerian govt need to do is to place so much tariffs on rice importation hence generate more revenue.After all that is what the customs are there for.

What now becomes of Nigeria's fate on the ECOWAS free-trade agreement.Meanwhile northern Nigerian borders are opened to Terrorists, killer herdsmen, armed bandits, etc

Free trade still in place. Go through the sea. Is that hard for you to comprehend?

Will it includes cattles, goats and ram from Niger, Mali, Chad etc?

Ebullience:
Customs Service, retried Col. Hameed Ali has insisted that all import and export of goods from the nation’s land borders remain banned until there is an agreement with neighbouring countries on the kind of goods that should enter and exit Nigeria.

According to him, the measure is for the security agencies to be able to scan the goods entering the country.

He maintained all goods must only enter through the legitimate air and sea ports where they can undergo thorough scanning and certified fit for consumption.

According to him: “We hope that by the time we get to the end of this exercise, we would have exactly between we and our neighbors agree on the type of goods that should enter and exit our country.

“For now, all goods, whether illicit or non-illicit, are banned from going and coming into Nigeria.

“Let me add that for the avoidance of doubt that we included all goods because all goods can equally come through our seaports.

“For that reason, we have deemed it necessary for now that importers of such goods should go through our controlled boarders where we have scanners to verify the kind of goods and how healthy to our people can be conducted.”

The Customs boss broke the news in Abuja during a joint press briefing on joint boarder patrol that is codenamed ‘EX-SWIFT RESPONSE.”

The Ex-SWIFT RESPONSE is coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) comprising the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to address trans-boarder security issues.

He insisted that despite the rights for movement of persons the enabling ECOWAS protocols, there must be primacy of security over such rights.

Ali, who was asked whether the Federal Government had not breached the rights of the citizenry to movement and international trade, said that “when it comes to security, all laws take back a seat.

“We want to our nation, we want make sure that our people are protected. You must be alive and well for you to begin to ask for your rights. Your rights come when you are well and alive.

“Go and the people in Maiduguri when Boko Haram was harassing their lives, the only question was survival, there is no question of right. This time Nigeria must survive first then before we begin to ask for our rights.”

Details shortly…

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-customs-orders-complete-border-import-export-ban/

Even if I do not support the 'sledge harmer to kill a fly' approach, the modus operandi of the Nigerian Customs must be thoroughly reviewed for effective and efficient performance.

On the other hand, the Nigerian government must ensure that local farmers and the producers of goods and services in general are exhaustively encouraged. This is naturally lead to the natural death of smuggling and importation of the categories of goods and services that we can produce in Nigeria.

Another way to boost agriculture is for federal and state governments to improve/expand the agro value chain along with good preservation systems/mechanisms. It must not always be just plant, harvest and sell! Processing is also beneficial; reliable/steady and affordable power supply and transport infrastructure are fundamental to the success of these areas. But are Nigerian government officials ready and willing to put in the work? Just thieving and embezzling the supposedly scarce funds...