The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) has called for greater collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), saying the two agencies are strategic to the success of the campaign for ridding the nation of smuggled motor vehicles. Col Ali stated this while on courtesy visit to the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi at the FRSC National Headquarters Abuja.
According to the FRSC ‘s Head, Media Relations and Strategy Bisi Kazeem, the Customs Boss said the existing collaboration between the FRSC and the Nigerian Customs Service must be strengthened and sustained in the best interest of the nation’s economic and security systems, vowing to work hard to build on the existing relationship. “We have many agencies whose operations cut cross that of the Customs, and FRSC is one of them,” he stated.
“I have decided to come here to familiarise myself with your operations and to assure you that with the briefs that I have received on the existing relationship between the two organisations, we would work to strengthen and sustain it in the best interest of the nation’s economy and security,” Col Ali further stated.
The Comptroller General while speaking on the use of technology in resolving some of the security challenges facing the smooth operations of the Customs service, noted that while physical efforts would continue to be made by his men to combat smuggling of vehicles into the country through the boarders, technology would be employed to identify the smuggled vehicles even at the point of registration. He decried the idea of organisations shielding themselves from others, and wondered how it would be possible for a single agency to deal adequately with all its challenges without sharing information with other stakeholders, pointing out that such isolationist practices would be counterproductive.
“We must effectively collaborate and build synergy that could yield positive results for the nation’s desire for security and increased revenue. I have no doubt that with the existing platforms, we could improve and sustain the collaboration to find lasting solutions to the challenges which smugglers of motor vehicles pose to the nation’s security and economy,” he further stated.
The Customs Boss gave assurances of his preparedness to get things right by reducing cases of smuggled vehicles, pointing out that in the vent that such vehicles are not stopped at the boarders, they are identified at the point of registration, saying the existing technical committee of the two agencies would be strengthened for optimal results.
In his remarks, the Corps Marshal thanked the Custom Boss for the visit, saying it would solidify the existing relationship between the two organisations. According to Oyeyemi, the past contributions made by the Comptroller General of Customs to the safer road campaigns in the country when he was the Military Administrator of Kaduna state is most appreciated, noting that such logistics support enhanced the operational and rescue capabilities of the FRSC in the state.
Oyeyemi further assured the Customs Boss that with his present appointment, FRSC will reciprocate his past gestures by working jointly with him for the success of his assignment. On the harmonisation of biometric data by all relevant agencies, the Corps Marshal stated that FRSC has since commenced work with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for the harmonisation of their data as directed by Mr President, saying when completed, the process could assist in identifying vehicles and drivers who operate in the country.
The Corps Marshal added that as part of the efforts to share information with other security agencies, the Corps has trained some selected personnel from the various agencies on how to identify fake and genuine driver’s licence and number plates on their own. He applauded the personnel of the Customs service across the country for the support they continue to render to the FRSC, appealing, however, to the Custom Boss to assist in curtailing the importation of Right Hand Steering Vehicles which were banned in 1972, but continue to be imported into the country with negative consequences on the rate of road traffic crashes in the country.
The Custom Boss was accompanied on the visit by some top management staff of the Nigerian Customs Service.
