 |
The nation’s borders are to remain closed until
neighbouring countries comply with trade protocols as provided under the
agreement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the
regard.
neighbouring countries comply with trade protocols as provided under the
agreement of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the
regard.
That was the view of the National Chairman of the All
Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who said he maintained the
same position as his party.
Oshiomole said this during a courtesy visit to the
Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali ( Rtd) in Abuja.
Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali ( Rtd) in Abuja.
He hailed the customs service for the action and urged
other authorities to fight against allowing Nigeria to become a dumping ground
for substandard goods, and added that the APC was fully aware of what he called
an organised pressure to blackmail the Service to withdraw its decision on
border closure.
other authorities to fight against allowing Nigeria to become a dumping ground
for substandard goods, and added that the APC was fully aware of what he called
an organised pressure to blackmail the Service to withdraw its decision on
border closure.
He urged the Customs Boss not to give in to pressures
from businessmen who only have their selfish interest at heart and against the overall
good of the nation, as he blamed several health issues on consumption of some imported
foods.
from businessmen who only have their selfish interest at heart and against the overall
good of the nation, as he blamed several health issues on consumption of some imported
foods.
He said: “Today, we can see cancer, heart infections and
other diseases ravaging our people. These are the cause of it. Rice that have
been abandoned in silos abroad are repackaged and brought here.
other diseases ravaging our people. These are the cause of it. Rice that have
been abandoned in silos abroad are repackaged and brought here.
“If our president is changing our consumption pattern,
then we should support that by producing what we consume.
then we should support that by producing what we consume.
“This is important so that we don’t export prosperity
and import poverty into the country.
and import poverty into the country.
“Tariff policy enforcement is Customs duty and it’s a
way of protecting the economy. We’re convinced that you’re doing well. We want
to publicly identify with the bold steps of the Service.
way of protecting the economy. We’re convinced that you’re doing well. We want
to publicly identify with the bold steps of the Service.
“We’ve always said we’re the Big Brother. But, we cannot
continue to celebrate our foreign policy that centres on African development
that has made us a dumping ground. Things have changed. States should have
control over their territory. America is saying America first. It is building
walls to protect its territory. China and others did the same. That is what we are
doing.
continue to celebrate our foreign policy that centres on African development
that has made us a dumping ground. Things have changed. States should have
control over their territory. America is saying America first. It is building
walls to protect its territory. China and others did the same. That is what we are
doing.
“Having been victims of food poisoning via expired rice
that came in through our borders, we cannot fold our arms and do nothing.
that came in through our borders, we cannot fold our arms and do nothing.
“Besides, Mr President is determined to boost
employment and welfare of the masses. They are his support base. Poor rural
farmers who are the majority do not have any business subsidizing the food we
eat. They are into business and they should survive. No more importing what we
can produce here and create a glut and the farmers lose,” he said.
employment and welfare of the masses. They are his support base. Poor rural
farmers who are the majority do not have any business subsidizing the food we
eat. They are into business and they should survive. No more importing what we
can produce here and create a glut and the farmers lose,” he said.
Giving his remarks, the Customs Boss said the Service
recorded a monthly revenue of N115 billion in the month of September, while
N9.2 billion was collected in one day as a result of the partial closure of the
land borders.
recorded a monthly revenue of N115 billion in the month of September, while
N9.2 billion was collected in one day as a result of the partial closure of the
land borders.
He also said there has been a remarkable drop in the
influx of bandits, arms, tramadol and other prohibited items, but noted that attempts made to address the perennial menace had not yielded much results.
influx of bandits, arms, tramadol and other prohibited items, but noted that attempts made to address the perennial menace had not yielded much results.
He said: “We’ve done everything in terms of deployment
and redeployment and using the little technologies we have but it has not
worked.
and redeployment and using the little technologies we have but it has not
worked.
“We felt we’ve been so nice with our neighbors and yet
they find it hard to adhere to the transit goods protocol.
they find it hard to adhere to the transit goods protocol.
“We gave Benin Republic 10 Toyota Hilux vehicles to
help escort goods meant for Nigeria and deliver it at the Krake border. They
complied for only a week and stopped.
help escort goods meant for Nigeria and deliver it at the Krake border. They
complied for only a week and stopped.
“We’ve signed many MoU with them and none was followed
through. We went to Benin for four days and adjusted the protocol and other
agreements and yet we didn’t get the right results.
through. We went to Benin for four days and adjusted the protocol and other
agreements and yet we didn’t get the right results.
“The parboiled rice that lands in Benin Republic is
meant for Nigeria. All francophone nations don’t eat it. They are now the third
highest importer of parboiled rice and yet they’re just 12 million people.
meant for Nigeria. All francophone nations don’t eat it. They are now the third
highest importer of parboiled rice and yet they’re just 12 million people.
“Worse still, 90% of imported rice are expired. It’s
not good for consumption and its worsened by the means of smuggling. Using
dirty boats, canoes, rickety vehicles and all that.
not good for consumption and its worsened by the means of smuggling. Using
dirty boats, canoes, rickety vehicles and all that.
“We can’t continue to eat bad rice. The cost of
producing our local rice is N15,000 a bag but how can they sell cheaper? Again,
one bag of maize is N4,000 but one bag of fertilizer is N5,000, so how can they
break even? This closure is expected to force Benin Republic and other to obey
protocols we signed. Until we see genuine changes, this exercise will continue,”
he said.
producing our local rice is N15,000 a bag but how can they sell cheaper? Again,
one bag of maize is N4,000 but one bag of fertilizer is N5,000, so how can they
break even? This closure is expected to force Benin Republic and other to obey
protocols we signed. Until we see genuine changes, this exercise will continue,”
he said.
With additional information from The SUN.
