Ogun government tasks Customs on harmonious relationship with people living at border area
ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
In an attempt to seek a lasting solution to the incessant killings and maiming of innocent persons, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been urged to find a better way of managing relationships with the people living at the border area.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun made this known at the commissioning of the Forward Operations Base (FOB), of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), at Oja- Odan, in Yewa North local government area, where he warned that the state cannot continue to have incidences where the Customs officers engage the people in the discharge of its duties and deaths are recorded.
Prince Abiodun noted that it was important for the customs service and the people to find a way to relate with each other, adding that the last incident which recorded the death of some people was a very difficult situation to manage.
He said: “We must have a way of managing our relationship, we cannot continue to have incidence where the customs are engaging our people, and there are loss of lives, this has happened a few times too frequently.
“I want to seize this opportunity to plead with the Nigeria Customs to find a better way of managing this relationship, we cannot afford to be losing our people, particularly kids, who are most times innocent.
“I also want to plead with our people, there is what is called ‘Responsibility Consciousness’, we must learn to be responsible citizens, we must live within the ambit of the law, we cannot afford to be lawless. I have said it over and over again, we will not tolerate lawlessness, criminality, cultism, smuggling in Ogun State, we must learn to be law abiding.”
Furthermore, the governor expressed that the commissioning of the Forward Operations Base (FOB) is a challenge to the men and officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service to show more commitment to duty, adding that the state government would support the service within available resources.
“With these Forward Operations Base(FOB) that is being commissioned today, I challenge the men and officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service that our disposition of friendliness with our neighbors should not be abused by criminal elements to come into the country, the responsibility is yours and you owe all of us that, whatever support requires, we as an administration will provide within available resources,” he said.
In the same vein, Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said that the federal government does not support the indiscriminate use of fire arms by any of its arms wielding agencies. He added: “I will take it up with the agencies involved.
“We are not encouraging the reckless use of arms, we regret the unfortunate loss of life, I want to believe we will soon take that into check, the drill is in the interest of the country. We must commend President Buhari for supporting the drill, we urge our people to support us in putting an end to the sabotage of our economy by those who are bent on destroying it.”
Similarly, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Controller Mohammed Babandede hereby commended the comptroller of the state command for bringing into the state command, a new vigor, saying that the state has two FOBs out of the twelve expected to be commissioned in the country.
He disclosed that the Nigeria Immigration Service will continue to respect human rights in the discharge of its duty. “The current activity going on at the border is not a border closure, but a border drill that will ensure that anyone leaving the shores of the country does that leave through illegal routes, but leave through legal routes.”
In her welcome address, the Comptroller of Immigration, Ogun State Command, Controller Doris Braimah confirmed that the command under her care had being able to create a synergy with other security agencies, sensitize migrants on the E- registration program, as well as the establishment of the personnel resource center.
She added that the Forward Operations Base, being commissioned by the Comptroller General is one out of the two to be commissioned in the state by the command.
Moreover, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewa land, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, called on the Minister of Interior to look into the indiscriminate shooting of people of the area, saying that officers of the NCS in the discharge of their duties should put in mind that the life of the people should also be protected.
Oba Olugbenle, also called on the minister to use his good office to ensure that sons and daughters of the district are considered in the recruitment exercise of new officers, while urging the people of Oja-Odan to come together and join hands in ensuring that the vacant stool in the town is filled at a time when the state has a listening governor.
