Don’t interfere in cargo clearance, AIG Zone 2, Mohammed tells Police

Don’t interfere in cargo clearance, AIG Zone 2, Mohammed tells Police

…Harps on community policing during his visit to NAGAFF headquarters

The AIG Zone 2, of Nigeria Police, Mohammed Ari Ali, has called on Police officers carrying out their statutory functions within Apapa ports axis not to interfere in cargo clearance but focus primarily on safeguarding national security, to protect the economic ambience from criminal elements.

The AIG made this known during his working visit to the headquarters of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Apapa, Lagos, yesterday.

Speaking further, AIG Mohammed Ali, stated emphatically that cargo clearance is a statutory responsibility of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

He said Police should desist from stopping and searching containers released out of Customs Control along the port corridors, except there is intelligence report that a particular container is carrying offensive items that can pose a threat to national security.

Going memory lane, the AIG recalled an incident when policemen under his supervision intercepted a container loaded with arms and ammunition along Apapa axis. He called for greater inter-agency collaboration and unity of purpose in curbing crimes, to ensure sanity in the system.

In the same vein, Mohammed Ali said Community Policing is vital, especially in fighting crimes in the State.

He pointed out :  “Community Policing is important. Today, Apapa is peaceful because of Community Policing.”

Mohammed, who commended NAGAFF on its contributions to the maritime industry, said his visit to the freight forwarding body was a home coming, since he had known NAGAFF when he was Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Area – B Command; and later became the Area Commander of the same station.

From right : The AIG making a brief speech on importance of Community Policing

The visit by AIG Zone 2 to NAGAFF was an epoch making event, as freight forwarders turned out in large number to welcome
Mohammed Ari Ali and his men.

The visit has come and gone; but the memory will linger for a long time on the minds of freight agents, maritime traders and media practitioners, who witnessed the event.

The AIG, who spoke intelligently, interacted freely with everyone, calling for credible information sharing that will help in protecting the port environment.