By Niyi Ogungbola
The Customs Controller,Ogun1 Area Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi has challenged the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to expose Smugglers and criminals living among them to enable the growth of the Nation's economy.
Comptroller Nnadi gave this charge on Thursday while receiving the (NYCN) Executive members who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, Idiroko ,Ogun State.
Nnadi called on the Ogun state chapter of NYCN to partner the Federal Government of Nigeria in fighting the menace of smuggling in the country saying, by so doing,the plans directed towards the growth of the Nation's economy would be yielding truthful results and youths would benefit directly through again full employment opportunities.
According to him, the NYCN executive,must use their position as leaders to educate their fellow (youths) not only on the menace of smuggling, but also on other cross bother crimes to achieve the FG's efforts at actualizing the objectives of growing the nation's economy.
While responding to their complaints,the Controller also appreciated their concerns saying that,the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Government would appreciate situations whereby, the youths of the state partner the Customs towards actualizing the objectives of eradicating smuggling activities in Ogun.
With specific reference to the NYCN's claim that, smuggling activities was necessitated by the unemployment, Nnadi asked the youths to take advantage of the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Customs Service to better their careers in life, stressing that the Service always accorded high priorities to nativity of the border communities each time it is recruiting.
"The South West gave birth to NYCN in 1964 and Ogun State produced the first President of the council. It is our expectations that the Ogun State chapter of NYCN will leverage on this glorious antecedent and join NCS to fight the menace of smuggling and other cross border crimes in the state".
"We need to reiterate that Ogun State is a trade hub where legitimate trade thrives and indeed, the Customs Command is the facilitator. We wish to obtain the assurances of the great Ogun State Youths to support NCS in this quest of presenting a new face of the Gateway State"
"It is essential we enable and sustain this image in line with historical antecedent of the state as the forbearer of several aspect of our national development".
"I have no doubt that, your predecessors were known for fighting injustice and crimes in the society, and I call on you too to join us to actualize this objectives.Nnadi further stressed.
Disclosing that the youths' visit coincided with the official launching of the additional 4 Units of special anti - smuggling patrol Toyota Hilux vehicles donated to the command by the Controller General Customs (CGC), Ahmed Ali, Nnadi urged the NYCN executives to assist in passing thank you message to the NCS leadership for the timely provisions of these needed operational vehicles.
He said that these specialized equipment was originally meant to prevent external aggression against the country, but without any hesitation it will be used to fight smuggling activities as well.
He therefore, assured that NCS will organize a forum to further educate greater number of Ogun youths on the need to support the Service.
Comptroller Nnadi however, promised that his command will continually instill it in the psyche of its personnel on the need to adhere to the rules of engagement in the course of dealing with members of the border communities.
Earlier,the NYCN led by their state chairman, Comrade Abdul -Jabar Ayelagbe, appealed to the Controller of Ogun 1 Command to prevail on the Customs operatives to desist from the habit of "indiscriminate firing within towns", each time they were on the trail of smugglers.
"If Smugglers escaped into towns there is no need for firing indiscriminately because of lives of thousands lawful people who are going on doing their lawful businesses in any part of Country." Ayelagbe stressed.
Ayelagbe also explained that indiscriminate shooting of firearms within the towns by NCS anti-smuggling operatives have always resulted in the death of innocent souls, a situation which he said smugglers usually take advantage to escape.
The NYCN Chairman as well demanded for employment of their members into the Nigeria Customs Services saying,that an idle hands becomes devil,s workshop.
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