Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Acting Comptroller-General of Custom Service, has given his approval for the CGC’s Strike Force Teams to be dissolved effect immediately.
Thus, he has officially directed the Federal Operations Units to assume full responsibility for all functions formerly executed by the dissolved CGC’s Strike Force Teams across the entire Federation, with immediate effect.
The Customs spokesman, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, elaborated in a statement on Tuesday night that the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs’ move was taken to promote best practices and facilitate trade in a more efficient manner.
The development is a direct reflection of his vision to introduce result-driven anti-smuggling tactics, all the while ensuring smooth and legitimate trade facilitation.
‘Consequently, the Ag. CGC has therefore given the Federal Operations Units and other Enforcement formations the marching order to use all the instruments of law available to discharge their duties.’
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‘He also directed strict adherence to enshrined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 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 statement partly read.
During his inaugural speech, Mr. Adewale expressed his firm resolve to eliminate all impediments and barriers to trade facilitation, establishing a new era of consultation and steadfast compliance within his administration.
In this new era under Mr. Adewale’s leadership, transparency, as he stated, will be a guiding principle, and the veil of secrecy that often shrouds illicit activities will be lifted.
By encouraging transparency and accountability, the administration aims to build trust between the government, stakeholders, and citizens, fostering an environment where illegal trade practices find no fertile ground to thrive.
Mr. Adewale is firmly convinced that the implementation of these adjustments will lead to enhanced transparency and, as a result, effectively curtail the smuggling of contraband goods.