…As AREFFN leadership visits Seme customs Controller
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Seme command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba has announced measures to shut down the Atlas Park at the joint border between Nigeria and Benin Republic over alleged illegalities.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN) who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Seme on Friday, Mohammed said that the Atlas Park in operation at Benin Republic was against the international law of transit hence the reason he was determined to shut it down even if he was going to stay at the command for one day.
He said,” It was at this instance that I am building a wall to block the illegal park. I have received complains when I came here from our Nigerian counterparts, apart from not respecting the law, it is the Beniniose that are engaged in the economic activities at that park, that the Beniniose authority has refused to respect the pact, it was at this instance that I gave them deadline which ends on 31st of December. I told the Ambassador, I communicated the customs high command, their DG had to come here, we had meeting with him and I told him there is no going back.
“Our Nigerian counterparts could not meet the deadline, they came here babbling, asking me to extend the deadline and I said no way, they have to get it right and that was what they did. I gave them up to 1st of February, that this place is going to be blocked”.
He continued,” The essence of the joint border post is for integration, cooperation and to integrate the local economy. Even yesterday, I went on sensitization, I went to Owode, I have spoken with the Chairman of the local government to check this, even the market women, we have had several meetings with them. Other security agencies who are against the closure of that place, I have sensitized them, I have spoken to them, I have given them advice on way things should be done.
“Free movement of persons, services and goods must be enforced in this border. It is the European concept, managed by ECOWAS, this place belongs to neither Nigeria nor to Benin, they handed over this building to us, I am the Chairman, the Benin Customs woman is the co-Chairperson. So, we are the people to make sure that the law is enforced”.
The CAC noted that while the disadvantage of the closure of the Atlas Park to Nigerian agents was for lack of space to keep their loads, he however added that he had provided them with a temporary park on customs land with them working in conjunction with Customs in making sure that transit goods were directly handed over to them and escorted by the customs and then the next customs administration receives it saying that on that basis, a lot of Nigerians will get work to do, more revenue would be generated, there would be security and there will be control.
“So, it is on this note that I said that you have come at the right time; this is a mission and that is what I want to complete even if I am leaving today. So, we want you to help us to sensitize your people. Other security agencies are not happy because of the reason of corruption. For how long are we going to continue to be corrupt? There must be an end in sight. Even if we are not going to end corruption during our time, in no distance future, even if it is not eliminated in totality, it will be reduced to the barest minimum”, said.
Speaking on concern raised by the Chairman of AREFFN, Seme Chapter, Mr. Jeremiah Zau-Mbah Wanku over control and management of the temporary park, the CAC said,” For the control and management of the park, customs is in charge, it is for temporary usage. I am not the government but what is fundamental is making sure that this illegality has to stop. This is our internal problem; let us finish with external problem before we talk of the internal ones. I have told the DC Admin to sit down and look at it to know who does what. It is going to be collective because there is the need for the running of the park, there is need for security and these are other issues that when decision is taken collectively, it is going to be better for all of us.
“Nobody should claim the ownership of that park; it is going to be collectively utilized. It must be collective because I have asked the Legal Adviser to come out with her suggestion and then we sit down collectively to look at it. This border is going to be a different border by the grace of God and we are also tackling the proliferation of check points along the road. There are so many problems along the road but we try as much as possible within the level of our capabilities to reduce the problems because we cannot solve all”.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of AREFFN, Seme Chapter, Mr. Jeremiah Zau-Mbah Wanku applauded the CAC for the bold step he had taken towards shutting down the Atlas Park saying,” Twenty years back, we struggled to stop what was happening in Atlas Park, just like he has said, Benin people will be the ones that will cut the seal from the port, they will still come and be the ones that will cut the seal here and we pay money which is not done. We tried to get them to bring these goods directly to the Nigeria customs so that they will cut the seal and allow us to carry our order from the trucks or the trucks will just go and park, maybe, after examination by the customs, then they said no.
“So, with all this, I really congratulate the Controller because we are very happy with what is going on and AREFFN will want to be part of the new park which I know we will come back for that. So, we want to be part of the park there so that we assist in facilitating its timely completion. So, it is a good idea, we have nothing to do but to pray for you that your plan will be successfully implemented and definitely, from here, we believe that with the work you have done here and are still doing, it will elevate you to the top”.
On his part, the National Publicity of AREFFN and Nollywood star, Mr. Ejike Metu went down memory on their experience with the government of the Republic of Benin over the said paid while praising the temerity of the Controller adding that “you took a decision a lion hearted man will take, a man who loves his country, a man who knows that his people are being undermined because in the course of this place, they have already tried to make us second fiddle and we said no, we are talking about Nigeria and today I am very happy that you are hosting us in this building”.
He continued, “So, what you have just said sir, you see, when you were talking, I was smiling, I was clapping all the while because that Atlas Park, we know what we went through. We had seminars in Cotonou more than four times, even on a particular day, we had to go and see the Minister of Transport because of what they use Atlas to do, all the shenanigans they do and the interest allowed it to stay.
“Congratulation sir and be rest assured that AREFFN will stand by you because somehow, we are all involved in this and what you have just laid down on the table are templates. There are going to be tackles because of vested interests but I have seen your resolve and we will continue like my President said, to pray for you, to work with you and to advice”.
Earlier in his opening speech, the National President of AREFFN, Mr. Bala Lawan Daura recalled that the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN) which was one of the accredited associations by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) was a courtesy visit to the chapter and the various security agencies that his members were working with as it was not up to two months that the national leadership was elected into office by the association.
Daura informed that having settled down, they felt it was time to go round to introduce their members to the authorities in order to make them understand their relationship with various security agencies in their areas of coverage.
According to him,” So, we feel we should come to say hi to you and to tell you that we are in support of your administration here and to tell our members at the chapter level that they should cooperate with you and work with you. I have told them that we have known you for more than twenty years, that you are a man of principle and you are somebody who we know that wherever you go, you move things; you make the government to have her revenue.
“So, we use this opportunity to tell them to support you so that you achieve your goals and let them be good agents, if there is anything that challenges them, they should not hesitate to come and meet you. Let them not be the violent agents, let them be the good agents that everybody can be proud of. So we are here today to extend our hands of friendship to the Nigerian Customs Service, Seme Border command”.
Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @ptreporters and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
1 Comment
Thanks for your report,but you failed to add that we also visited the Immigration Command,the DSS and the police and you were there with us, hope you will do an addendum