To reduce the menace of smuggling of cargoes into the country, a human right lawyer and human right activist, Kehinde Bamiwola, has advised the federal government to reduce import duties and taxes on goods that are not locally produced in the country.
Speaking at a symposium organised by the Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum (IPYF), on the topic, ‘Smuggling & Hoarding of Petroleum Products: Effects on Border Communities & National Security,’ also stated that to experience reduction in smuggling of petroleum products in border communities across the country, the federal government should also rescind the decision on closure of petrol stations 20 kilometres to the nation’s borders.
LEADERSHIP reports that the symposium is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), of the Ogun 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko to educate the youths from the border Communities against smuggling and its attendant effect on the nation’s economy and security.
However, he said since smuggling was a reaction to high taxes, high taxes should be removed from imported goods.
“Since smuggling started as reactions to high taxes and custom duty, I hereby recommend a call for reduction in custom duties and tariffs on goods that are not locally produced in Nigeria,” Bamiwola stated.
He also warned border dwellers, especially youths, to stay away from smuggling, saying it discourages education and industrialisation.
Bamiwola, said closure of the filling stations at border communities is no longer popular because of the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
“To the Border communities, smuggling discourages education, industrialisation and legitimate trade and also an antithesis to Agricultural development.”
Speaking on petroleum smuggling, the lawyer said, “ Border Communities Petrol stations should be opened by the federal government and the ban on 20 kilometres sale of petroleum products should be lifted,” he stated.
He further disclosed that smuggling is injurious to public health as it encourages illegitimate trade and Importation of substandard and unregulated drugs.
“Smuggling kills or destroys local industries and the domestic economy. Smuggling creates unhealthy competition for local industries outside the doctrine of comparative cost advantage. This has nothing to do with the concept of legitimate international trade
“It causes great economic loss through loss of Custom duties, taxes receivable by the government. It promotes proliferation of fake or counterfeit or substandard items. Imagine a fake Ampiclox that was illegally smuggled into the country but later found to be ordinary powder without a single medical content,” he lamented.
Barr. Bamiwola, however, recommended community- government agencies partnership in curbing smuggling and hoarding of petroleum products.
“There should be synergy amongst the security outfits and personnel using 21st century technology such as drones to monitor Border Communities. Government should aid local Production of goods that are mostly imported via Agric-loans; industrialization grants, subventions and make farm equipment and machines Customs duty free.”
Meanwhile, the acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun 1command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ahmadu Shuaibu, said N1.51bn loss incurred by the smugglers in the last eight months at the command would have improved Nigeria’s economy if channelled into legitimate trade.
Shuaibu who was represented by the deputy comptroller, Administration of Idiroko Border, Charles Ogunesan, said smuggling retards the nation’s economic development, hampers social wellbeing and endangers national security.
According to him, it is time smuggling is stopped considering the dangers inherent
in it, saying the service has lost officers to death and permanent disability while locals have also been killed due to smuggling. communities had lost their members to the evil of this unfortunate demon called smuggling.
“The Command in conjunction with the youths, used the opportunity of this auspicious occasion to bring us all together, to inform and enlighten us about the consequence of smuggling on our socioeconomic wellbeing and national security. Over the years, the Command had recorded a series of horrible and unwanted experiences in our line of lawful duties. These experiences range from blocking of access roads by smugglers and their sympathisers, mob attacks of officers either going in pursuit of information or conveying seized goods to the government warehouses, skirmishes to altercation which often result in casualties.
“We have lost officers to death and permanent disability while our dear communities have lost their members to the evil of this unfortunate demon called smuggling. It is high time we say no to smuggling considering the dangers inherent in it. It retards our economic development, hampers our social wellbeing and endangers our national security.”
“From January of this year to date, for instance, the Command had made a seizure of goods worth N1,514,478,916.00. If such a huge amount of money is well utilised for legitimate trade, this will no doubt improve our economy.”
Shuaibu, who reiterated that the security and development of the country is the responsibility of everyone, stated that the core mandate of the command is to generate revenue, suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade and secure our border lines.
