Arms And Ammunition Importation: Customs Places Officers On Alert

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Amidst increased cases of importation of arms, ammunitions, hard substances and other unwholesome and prohibited items into the country, the Comptroller, Port Terminal Multi Services Limited, PTML, Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Tenny Daniyan, has urged officers and men of the Service to always be on red alert.

This is even as he announced a revenue collection of over N152 billion for the period between January and June 2024.

Comptroller Daniyan called on Examination and Releasing Officials to always apply due diligence, responsibility and higher level of security consciousness in the discharge and handling of any import or export cargo passing through the Command

In a statement issued on Sunday, July 7, 2024 by the Command Spokesperson, Yakubu Muhammad, CSC, Comptroller Daniyan charged officers and men under the Command to, at  all times, shun any forms of compromise in the discharge of their duties .

He emphasised the need  for the protection of national interests and security to  be the over-riding consideration in the course of discharging their tasks.

He noted that it will amount to a great disservice to the interests of the country to allow arms and ammunitions in the hands of non-state actors .

“Arms and ammunition in the hands of non-state actors puts the country in danger and illicit drugs have been globally noted as a fuelling factor for many unlawful behaviours” Daniyan noted

The Comptroller warned that  any PTML Command personnel found to be involved in aiding and abating illegal activities will not be spared .

” I want to urge all Customs officers in PTML to always insist on cargo examination like we have always done. You are hereby placed on red alert to keep doing the right thing as importers of arms, ammunition and illicit drugs have shown more desperation in recent times .

“Let us continue to make PTML a no-go-area for perpetrators of such illegalities and be ready to make seizures of such items including effecting arrests of persons suspected to be involved in such activities” the Comptroller enjoined.

According to Daniyan, the N150 billion realized in the first half of  2024 is about  N50 billion higher than the figure during the corresponding period last year .

He expressed the optimism that the Command is poised to generate more revenue in the second half of the year.

” I strongly believe that we will do more with revenue collection and trade facilitation in the second half of 2024 as we continually improve on our level of service delivery and diligent implementation of all Government directives.

He, however, promised that the protection of National Interests and Security ,will not be sacrificed on the alter of improved revenue generation.