Kebbi land border remain closed- Attah declares

Abiola Seun

The Customs Area Controller, Kebbi Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Compt. Joseph Attah, has said the land border closure to import and export of goods from neighbouring countries through the command still subsists.

Attah stated this when he assumed duty on Monday, 12th February 2022, after taking over from Comptroller Hafiz Kalla.

The former National Public Relations Officer of the service who, however, declared war on rice and petroleum product smugglers, reminded the officers that the land borders in the Command are still officially closed.

In a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Nasiru Manga, the CAC charged officers to ensure strict compliance to government fiscal policy on imports and exports of goods.

The statement reads, “The newly appointed Customs Area Controller, Kebbi Command, Comptroller Joseph Attah, has assumed duty today, Monday, 14th February 2022, after taking over from Comptroller Hafiz Kalla.

” Shortly after taking over the reign of the Command at a ceremony held in the Command Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, the new Area Controller harped on the need for officers and men of the Command to ensure strict compliance with Government fiscal policy on imports and exports of goods.

He specifically mentioned foreign parboiled rice and petroleum product as some of the items that the Command’s officers and men need to keep watchful eyes on to ensure they are not smuggled into or out of the country.

He reminded the officers that the land borders in the Command are still officially closed.

The Customs boss, however, promised to engage stakeholders in the state on danger of smuggling and need to ensure voluntary compliance at all time.

“Compt. Attah also promised a robust stakeholder engagement with relevant stakeholders in Kebbi State to engender a culture of voluntary compliance.

“He charged the operatives to avoid conducts that are unbecoming of officers and capable of causing friction between the Service and members of the community.”

“Comptroller Attah urged them to be disciplined and cooperate with him as he promised to be a team player with fairness and justice to everybody.”

Speaking earlier, the outgoing CAC, Compt. Kalla while congratulating the new Area Controller on his new appointment, urged officers and men of the Command to extend same support and cooperation they accorded him to the new Controller.