NCS cautions border community on improper practices

As ECOWAS lifts sanctions against the Niger Republic, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has charged the border community, marketers, and other stakeholders in Illela to follow specified regulations.

The charge was given on Tuesday in the Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State during an interaction with the community by Mr. Kamal Muhammad, the Comptroller in charge of the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command.

Muhammad claimed that the neighboring country’s sanctions had been withdrawn by ECOWAS, and that this move may result in the reopening of the country’s borders.
He explained that the purpose of his inspection visit was to evaluate the situation and speak with locals, marketers, and representatives of sister organizations.

He pleaded on the parties involved to work together more closely and to always maintain cordial working relationships.

“My visit to Illela border station is to ensure that all is set in anticipation of the last order of the border re-opening.”

“My visit is to make sure that everything is in place for the reopening of the Illela border while we wait for the final order,” Muhammad stated. “The lifting of ECOWAS sanctions on Niger Republic and subsequent restoration of power supply to the neighboring country are the reasons of my visit.”

He revealed that as part of NCS’s social responsibility to the community, a contract for the building of a Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) at the Illela border has been awarded.

Muhammad emphasized that in order for NCS to fulfill its constitutional role, stakeholders must support it.

The comptroller expressed gratitude to the community members, traditional leaders, and licensed agents and urged them to provide NCS with information so that NCS could better serve the country.

He made use of the opportunity to educate the public about the risks associated with smuggling, which he claimed had hampered economic development.

Alhaji Muhammadu, a traditional ruler representing the border village, responded by thanking the comptroller for his visit and promised to provide NCS and other sister agencies at the border all of our support.