…Commissions two vessels to tackle smuggling on high sea
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commissioned the two sea going vessels namely; Group of Nine and Customs Pride it procured in 2014 by the former Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi.
The commissioning which took place at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday saw one of the vessels named Group of Nine in honour of the nine Customs Marine Officers who met their untimely death while confronting deadly petrol smugglers on the sea in 2014 while the second one was named Customs Pride to represent the pride of the service on sea.
Speaking shortly before commissioning of the vessels, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) stated that Nigeria’s quest for non-oil revenue was largely dependent on the ability of the Service to fight smuggling and bring it to the barest minimum.
Ali noted that experience had shown that whenever smugglers face stiff resistance by NCS anti-smuggling operatives on the land, they turn to the waterways to carry out their illegal trade.
“Unfortunately, before now, the service has been weak on the water arising from the lack of sea going vessels to effectively checkmate smugglers on the high sea. This is situation led to the death of nine customs marine officer while confronting deadly petrol smugglers on the sea in 2014. It is in honour of this group of nine gallant officers who died in the service of the fatherland that one of the two sea going vessels we are about to commission is named ‘Group of Nine’ while the other represents the ‘Customs Pride’ on sea.
“The commissioning of these two sea going vessels, well equipped with necessary fire power and other requirements for long time water patrol is in line with the ongoing repositioning of the service to effectively deliver its mandate to the nation. With these vessels, I hope smugglers will no longer take advantage of NCS vulnerability on water to smuggle in contraband. NCS Marine operatives can now sail to interdict them right on the high sea”, he said.
The Comptroller General of Customs added that the timing of the commissioning was strategic as it would on the immediate boost the ongoing joint security Ex-Swift Response on water and henceforth remain a symbol of NCS strength on the sea even as he opined that it was the resolve of the NCS management that smugglers find no space to operate either on land, air or sea.
He further said, “Let me use this opportunity to thank Port Plus, the Nigerian Navy and all others who have in one way or the other contributed to the procurement, safe custody, maintenance and installation of needed equipment for the commissioning today. As we joyfully commission these vessels today, we are not unmindful of challenges that may necessitate the assistance of the Nigerian Navy from time to time. Let me therefore, like Oliver Twist, request the kind assistance of the more experienced sister agency, the Nigerian Navy, should we come calling for any technical or any other requirement that will keep these vessels sailing in the interest of the nation. On this note, I thank the Chief of Naval Staff for his continuous support to the NCS.”
On his part, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Mongunu (rtd.) congratulated the Comptroller General of Custom for the acquisition of the two sea going vessels which he described as a very unique accomplishment.
“These vessels, from what I understand, will be the first step in solving a lot of criminal activities that have not been seen and I am happy to note that the characteristics of these vessels; speed, strong, communication, endurance and fire power should be able to assist other agencies; the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy as well as the Air Force and other agencies in dealing with these problems and I am sure that in the years to come, we will be able to acquire more equipment.
“I know Mr. President does not waste time in supporting agencies that are glaringly making great strides and I want to say that at the end of the day, we should be able to bring all the neighbours of Nigeria that have not been too willing to cooperate with us to understand the reason why we have been engaging in some of these operations. It is now a question of us taking care of our immediate concerns”, he added.
Also speaking, the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas conveyed the goodwill of the Nigerian Navy to the Comptroller General of Customs for the good feat achieved in the procurement and commissioning of these two vessels.
Ibas who was represented at the occasion by the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Daji said “We have been as a Service, assisting the Nigeria Customs Service in the enforcement of customs laws of Nigeria at sea and with the addition of these two vessels, definitely, the capacity to carry out that task will further be enhanced and our maritime space will no longer be conducive to smugglers.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, ACG Kaycee Ekekezie observed that the commissioning marked a historic landmark in the annals of the Nigeria Customs Service war against smuggling on the high sea as according to her “the major instrument of war against high sea smuggling is at last being commissioned by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali retired but not tired.”
She pointed out that those vessels would greatly help the service in the tough war of controlling high sea smuggling and especially the mortality of the officers on duty adding that it would help them to contribute their quota in protecting the lives of the citizens against the evils of small arms proliferation, substandard products including dangerous drugs.
“We have been making small catches but now, after the commissioning of these vessels, I bet you, all the seizures we have been making in the past will triple. In our work on the high sea, the Nigerian Navy has been of tremendous help, in fact, in this business, we call them our big brother, they are the ones that have helping us but, today, with the commissioning of these vessels, now that we have our own, we are going to be close to them as much as possible to do justice to what has been happening on the high sea and that is curbing the smuggling in their domain. Our morale has been lifted, we have been given a very big boost with these vessels and I bet you we going to do more than we have been doing before”, she concluded.
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