Customs Boss Hammed Ali Orders Removal Of Road Blocks Nationwide

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col Hammed Ali (rtd), has ordered all its commands across the country to immediately remove all road blocks nationwide.

In a circular copied to Deputy Comptroller General, all acting Deputy Comptroller General, Assistant Comptroller Generals, Zonal Coordinators, Customs Area Controllers, Comptrollers Federal Operating Units, Comptroller General’s Compliance Teams and Marine Commands, yesterday, directed them to ensure immediate compliance.

Ali in the circular titled: ‘Removal of All Illegal Check-Points Across the Country,’ signed by Acting Deputy Comptroller General (E, I & I), said, “Reference to the PEBEC letter No: PEBEC/EBES/SSAITIOVP/TWN/03 of 18 July, 2017, on the above subject-matter, you are hereby directed to ensure compliance.

“For avoidance of doubt, it is hereby emphasised that check-points mounted outside 40 kilometres to the border are illegal while information patrols outside this point should not last more than 24- hours at any given time.”

He added: “The 40 kilometres radius applies only to the borders and consequently there should be no check-points within the port areas. To further clarify the issue, it should be reminded strongly that only two checkpoints situated at Agbara and Gbaji along Lagos-Badagry-Seme road are statutorily approved for instance.

“Henceforth, Zonal Coordinators, Comptrollers FOUs, CACs CIU and other units will be jointly held responsible for flouting the directive. Ensure widest circulation for strict compliance please.”