Security threat, influx of ammunition :  CGC Adeniyi battle-ready for arms traders

Security threat, influx of ammunition :  CGC Adeniyi battle-ready for arms traders 
…Adeniyi roars, talks eye-eye to officers at Apapa port

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has raised a red flag across all its formations nationwide following the latest trend on influx of arms and live ammunition into Nigeria from Turkey.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, himself is at the forefront leading his office to thwart the nefarious activities of arms Merchants exporting dangerous weapons into Nigeria’s economic ambience.

The body language of the CGC shows that he is battle-ready for economic saboteurs and their collaborators shipping consignments of arms, live ammunition, Military wares and dangerous drugs to Nigeria.

The CGC is moving swiftly across various Customs formations, with a strong warning signal, telling culprits to desist; or be ready to face the full wrath of the law, as he will not hesitate to run illicit traders out of business.

That was the same displeasure CGC Adeniyi expressed during his visit to Apapa Customs Command yesterday. The Customs Boss roared as he talked to his officers eye-to-eye, threatening to leave no stone unturned in dealing with economic saboteurs exporting arms and ammunition into Nigeria.

While the CGC scored his officers high on revenue collection and trade facilitation, he urged them to remain vigilant and alert in safeguarding national security; stressing;  “the Nigerian nation belongs to all of us. Revenue is important, as well as trade facilitation. We are getting these aspects right but we must not fail on our mandate in safeguarding national security”.

The no nonsense CGC sparked, telling his officers, managers of bonded terminals; importers, terminal operators, shipping firms and freight agents to stay upright and comply with the rules of engagement in doing business at the seaports, as the Service is ready to deal decisively with criminal elements trying to undermine national security.

It was observed that the visit of CGC Adeniyi to the premier port Command was not the usual meeting in the conference hall, as Adeniyi addressed his subordinates right on the parade ground, standing throughout like a combatant soldier preparing for war, and his officers standing-still, fixed without any movement.  It was a serious outing, as the Customs Boss talked to his officers eye-to-eye, starring directly at all faces.

This time around, the usual smile on the face of CGC Adeniyi was elusive; as he gave these strong assertions :
“Since the beginning of this year, I’m sure you must have known or heard about a customs officer; or his family member who was kidnapped.

“I am sure you must have heard or known a colleague; or even a family member of a customs officer who had been a victim of terrorists attack; either in the North East, North West, or in the South.

“So, even customs officers are not isolated from what is happening in the country at present. I’m just using those instances to draw your attention to the fact that we live in a very dire situation in our country.

“The responsibility of making it better lies in the hands of all of us. The responsibility of correcting this anomaly lies in our action or inaction”.

Recall that four days ago, CGC Adeniyi was at Onne Command in Port Hacourt, where he unveiled massive seizures of arms and Illicit drugs worth over N13.9billion, two days ago, precisely on July 3, 2024, he was at Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, Lagos, where he showcased more seizures of arms, Drones and Military wares imported into the country through the back-door, worth over N1.5billion.

With these recent developments; the Service has stepped up security surveillance and will not hesitate to unleash its anti-smuggling onslaught against anyone found culpable of shipping dangerous weapons into the country, as such offensive items pose serious threat to national security.