In a bid to promote best practices and enhance trade facilitation, the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the dissolution of CGC’s Strike Force Teams with immediate effect and equally directed the Federal Operations Units to take over all their responsibilities across the Federation henceforth.
Customs spokesman, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada who made the disclosure noted that the development was in tandem with his vision of ensuring result-oriented anti-smuggling strategies while facilitating legitimate trade.
According to him, “Consequently, the Ag. CGC has therefore charged the Federal Operations Units and other Enforcement formations the marching order to use all the instruments of law available to discharge their duties. He also directed strict adherence to enshrined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and rules of engagement while dealing decisively with economic saboteurs.
“To ensure transparency and accountability, all anti-smuggling formations have also been mandated to boldly ascribe their names on all operational vehicles to checkmate the possibility of excesses, misconduct and human rights abuse.
“It would be recalled that the Ag. CGC, in his maiden address, stated unequivocally that all encumbrances and other obstacles to trade facilitation would be dismantled while fostering a new culture of consultation and compliance.”