Customs Scraps Strike Force With Immediate Effect & Other Major Reviews

Acting Comptroller – General of the Nigeria Customs Service has taken giant steps to reposition its anti-smuggling operations for optimal services.

The move sees the immediate dissolution of the anti-smuggling body’s strike force nationwide among other reviews.

“All anti-smuggling formations have also been mandated to boldly ascribe their names on all operational vehicles” to ensure more responsible conduct.

Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller General of Customs made the revelations in a statement with the header “strategic review of Nigeria Customs Anti-smuggling operation for optimal performance” .

The reviews according to the Chief Superintendent of Customs are….

1. In a bid to promote best practices and enhance trade facilitation, the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has approved the dissolution of CGC’s Strike Force Teams with immediate effect and equally directed the Federal Operations Units to take over all their responsibilities across the Federation henceforth. This development is in tandem with his vision of ensuring result-oriented anti-smuggling strategies while facilitating legitimate trade.

2. Consequently, the Ag. CGC has therefore charged the Federal Operations Units and other Enforcement formations the marching order to use all the instruments of law available to discharge their duties. He also directed strict adherence to enshrined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and rules of engagement while dealing decisively with economic saboteurs.

3. To ensure transparency and accountability, all anti-smuggling formations have also been mandated to boldly ascribe their names on all operational vehicles to checkmate the possibility of excesses, misconduct and human rights abuse.

4. It would be recalled that the Ag. CGC, in his maiden address, stated unequivocally that all encumbrances and other obstacles to trade facilitation would be dismantled while fostering a new culture of consultation and compliance.

The statement by the National Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller General of Customs was issued on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.