Sanctions for Customs Officers Misusing Firearms at Borders are being sought by the Senate.
The Senate ordered on Tuesday that erring Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officials who misuse their firearms at the country’s borders be penalized.
The upper house asked the NCS during plenary to lower the number of checkpoints at border communities to facilitate the free flow of goods.
It endorsed the recommendations of an ad hoc committee four months after it was formed to investigate alleged gun misuse.
The Chair of the Committee, Francis Fadahunsi, said during a presentation of the report in parliament that the comptrollers at the Idiroko and Katsina crossings should be replaced with new ones.
“The federal government should tell the comptroller-general of customs and other security agency heads to minimise the number of checkpoints placed in border settlements,” Fadahunsi added.
“It will facilitate the free flow of commodities in and around towns to the main town, as well as around markets in border areas.”
The upper chamber explicitly requested that the Federal Government authorise the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, to lower the number of checkpoints in Katsina State in order to allow for the free flow of products in and out of the areas.
The Senate also recommended that the Customs chief redeploy Katsina controllers and use current technology in carrying out its job.
“The Comptroller General of Customs should investigate and review the alleged issuing of unofficial receipts to traders and non-traders by Customs and other security services in Jibia and Mai’adua, Katsina State.”
“This conduct has brought immeasurable misery to the people who live in these communities, as transporting commodities (farm produce) across large marketplaces and even to Katsina town and other surrounding states is a monumental undertaking.”
“The Comptroller General of Customs should redeploy the Comptrollers of Kastina/Kaduna and Idiroko Area Commands and choose successors who would implement an effective community engagement strategy.” This would foster a healthy connection and enable customs to carry out its job without being oblivious to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state’s communities.”