The Customs Space Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Compt. Aliyu Gambo has cautioned smugglers working throughout land borders and Nigeria’s waterways within the South West to desist from unlawful actions, stressing that, there can be no secure routes and no hiding locations.
Chatting with journalists, the newly appointed Customs CAC, acknowledged that, surveillance, patrols, and intelligence-led operations can be intensified to make sure that smugglers are apprehended and prosecuted.
Based on him, anybody concerned in smuggling, no matter scale or route, can be made to face the total weight of the regulation.
Gambo additionally warned importers and clearing brokers who consider they will short-change the federal government via under-payment, under-declaration, false declaration, or commerce misinvoicing that such practices can be uncovered.
He mentioned, “importers who assume they will evade their obligations via under-declaration or under-payment ought to rethink, as a result of Customs will detect these practices and get better each kobo because of the authorities.”
He defined that, “Customs is strengthening threat evaluation programs, post-clearance audits, and intelligence collaboration to trace consignments from origin to vacation spot, noting that “distance or international transport factors is not going to protect non-compliance.”
Whereas reaffirming Customs’ dedication to facilitating legit commerce, Gambo careworn that compliance stays non-negotiable, stating that “those that play by the principles don’t have anything to worry, however compliance will not be elective.”
On Reputational Administration, the Controller mentioned accountability and transparency are central to public belief, noting that the moral tone set by the CGC has considerably improved public notion of the Service.
He assured that FOU Zone A would maintain and deepen these beneficial properties, emphasising that “Customs has a social contract with Nigerians and should ship worth with out shedding sight of its mandate within the commerce worth chain.”
Past income and commerce facilitation, Gambo highlighted the safety dimension of Customs operations, warning of the nexus between smuggling, illicit medicine, arms proliferation, and rising criminality.
He noticed that, challenges reminiscent of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping make efficient border management a nationwide safety crucial essential to defending lives, the financial system, and nationwide stability.
Gambo has pledged to accentuate intelligence-driven operations, strengthen stakeholder collaboration, and promote welfare and professionalism throughout the ranks guaranteeing that FOU Zone A not solely sustains its anti-smuggling successes but in addition advances the broader aims of the service financial safety, commerce facilitation, and nationwide safety.
He careworn that, sustainable reform begins with mindset change, noting that, officers should internalise professionalism, self-discipline, and repair values, whereas stakeholders should recognize that Customs operations are guided strictly by nationwide curiosity and the rule of regulation.
He defined that, Customs operates inside a fancy, post-globalisation commerce setting that calls for adaptability, intelligence-led enforcement, and constructive stakeholder engagement, including that, change should be each inner and exterior, reshaping behaviour whereas strengthening institutional tradition.
On compliance administration, Gambo emphasised strict adherence to procedures and moral requirements, balanced with an understanding of Nigeria’s commerce realities.
He made it clear that compliance wouldn’t be elective, however enforcement can be agency, honest, and intelligence-driven.
FOU Zone A, he mentioned, will undertake a ‘carrot and stick’ method that rewards compliance whereas decisively sanctioning infractions, consistent with the CGC’s broader reform agenda centred on advantage, competence, and equity.
