…What about the
waterways security?
waterways security?
The Nigeria Customs
Service (NCS) and the Joint Border Security Task force anti-smuggling and security exercise
checking access along the land borders may have been very effective, but what
happens on the waterways becomes important, as the Service has only wooden canoes to
challenge the smugglers’ faster moving boats .
Service (NCS) and the Joint Border Security Task force anti-smuggling and security exercise
checking access along the land borders may have been very effective, but what
happens on the waterways becomes important, as the Service has only wooden canoes to
challenge the smugglers’ faster moving boats .
Investigation showed
that whereas rice smuggling through the land borders have been effectively
reduced, market price of rice has surged from N14,000 to its present N16,000
per bag.
that whereas rice smuggling through the land borders have been effectively
reduced, market price of rice has surged from N14,000 to its present N16,000
per bag.
Consequently, the idea
of smuggling through water had never been so enticing or lucrative, as the
smugglers understand that the only force to contend with is the Nigerian Navy,
whose primary and secondary concerns were targeted at crude theft prevention
and seizure of adulterated diesels, instead of rice smuggling.
of smuggling through water had never been so enticing or lucrative, as the
smugglers understand that the only force to contend with is the Nigerian Navy,
whose primary and secondary concerns were targeted at crude theft prevention
and seizure of adulterated diesels, instead of rice smuggling.
The result was
therefore, when Navy Cpt. Toritseju Vincent highlighted on a Thursday, two
weeks ago that the Navy in Ibaka, handed over 502 bags of smuggled rice it
intercepted, to the Nigeria Customs Service, very little reaction was elicited.
therefore, when Navy Cpt. Toritseju Vincent highlighted on a Thursday, two
weeks ago that the Navy in Ibaka, handed over 502 bags of smuggled rice it
intercepted, to the Nigeria Customs Service, very little reaction was elicited.
The Navy Director of
Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun further corroborated this, highlighting
that the Nigerian Navy also arrested nine suspects, while seizing the 502 bags
of foreign rice on Parrot Island waterways and Mbo River in Akwa Ibom.
Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun further corroborated this, highlighting
that the Nigerian Navy also arrested nine suspects, while seizing the 502 bags
of foreign rice on Parrot Island waterways and Mbo River in Akwa Ibom.
It would be recalled
that the Navy Capt. had equally mentioned that the team some days earlier,
precisely on August 12, also intercepted 370 bags of smuggled rice, too. The rice,
obviously, were being smuggled from neighbouring Cameroon into Nigeria.
that the Navy Capt. had equally mentioned that the team some days earlier,
precisely on August 12, also intercepted 370 bags of smuggled rice, too. The rice,
obviously, were being smuggled from neighbouring Cameroon into Nigeria.
“An arrest was made on
Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 of these five suspects, with a large wooden boat
conveying 370 bags of rice.
Monday, Aug. 12, 2019 of these five suspects, with a large wooden boat
conveying 370 bags of rice.
An industry watcher,
Tony Emeordi praised the Customs efforts at checkmating smuggling on land, even
as he noted that the Service had seemingly abandoned the waterways to the
smugglers.
Tony Emeordi praised the Customs efforts at checkmating smuggling on land, even
as he noted that the Service had seemingly abandoned the waterways to the
smugglers.
“It is like the
Customs and the smugglers have achieved an unwritten MoU, which guarantees the
smugglers use of waters, while the
Service operatives effectively seal up the land border areas,” Emeordi said, pointing out that the war against
smuggling may however never be won with such MoU.
Customs and the smugglers have achieved an unwritten MoU, which guarantees the
smugglers use of waters, while the
Service operatives effectively seal up the land border areas,” Emeordi said, pointing out that the war against
smuggling may however never be won with such MoU.
