Seme Customs talks tough, seals illegal routes …Reverts all movements to joint border post

Seme Customs talks tough, seals illegal routes

.Reverts all movements to joint border post

 By Udeme Clement

 Individuals engaging in cross border trade around Seme, the border between Nigeria and Republic of Benin, must be warned that movement at this axis is no longer business as usual.

This is because the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Seme Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba is talking tough on movements at areas he described as illegal routes.

Financial Business learnt that Comptroller Uba, who was the co-chairman, at the first Joint Management meeting since inauguration of the Joint Border Post, JBP, at Seme gave assurance that illegal routes must be fully sealed by 14 January, 2019.

He also directed that all movements within the border area must revert back to the Joint Border Post, in order to check the activities of illicit traders at Seme.

The first Joint Management meeting, which took place at the Conference Hall of JBP, yesterday, January 11, 2019, included discussion on plans and strategies for effective running of the facility, to achieve the intended purpose.

More so, Comptroller Uba emphasised that the Command is working tirelessly to effectively carry out its core functions of trade facilitation, revenue generation for the Federal Government and anti-smuggling operations in line with global best practice.

He stressed that all loopholes must be blocked to ensure greater revenue collection for economic growth.  .

Comptroller Uba also said that sealing illegal routes within the border region is important to prevent offensive items from coming into the economic environment.