In a bid to promote best practices and enhance trade facilitation, the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the dissolution of CGC’s Strike Force Teams with immediate effect.
In a release titled “Strategic Review of Nigeria Customs Service Anti-smuggling Operations for Optimal Performance’, the CGC equally directed the Federal Operation Units (FOU) of customs to take over all their responsibilities across the country.
This development is in tandem with his vision of ensuring result-oriented anti-smuggling strategies while facilitating legitimate trade, Customs Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada said in a statement that was issued on Wednesday.
The Ag. CGC gave the Federal Operation Units and other anti-smuggling formations a marching order to use all the instruments of law available to discharge their duties. He also directed strict adherence to enshrined standard operating procedures and rules of engagement while dealing decisively with economic saboteurs.
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.
The Ag. CGC in his maiden address, stated unequivocally that all encumbrances and other obstacles to trade facilitation will be dismantled while fostering a new culture of consultation and compliance.“
