Seme, the border between Nigeria and
Republic of Benin is the busiest border in
entire West and Central African Sub-region.
Seme is where Customs work with their eyes,
ears and minds open 24 hours. They must be
alert to ensure that aside from blocking,
prohibited goods, arms and ammunition that
can jeopardise national security, individuals
on government’s wanted list do not pass
through the border. All consignments coming
into Nigeria through Seme must go through
strict scrutiny and thorough scanning process,
at the Scan-system Unit beside Customs
office.
Policing this border is extra-ordinarily
challenging, as Sunday Vanguard during a
visit to Seme observed that the border has a
difficult terrain with swampy areas all over
the place. Many houses in the surrounding
communities were seen flooded, making
movement in the environment extremely
difficult, even with jungle boots.
Inspite of these challenges, the current
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller
Victor David Dimka, who has worked in key
positions as the CAC, Federal Operation Unit
(FOU), Zone ‘A’, Lagos and FOU, Zone ‘C’,
Owerri, said they are battled-ready for
smugglers.
Dimka has stepped up security surveillance in
the entire Command. Infact, anyone who sees
the movement of the CAC repeatedly between
his office and the scaning unit, will know that
activities at Seme are no longer business as
usual. Sunday Vanguard gathered that the
Command under his watch recently
intercepted, three bullet proof vehicles with a
Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N58.7million. The
vehicles include a black Jeep Escalade with
registration number GGE 225 BM, a black
Toyota Land Cruiser (VKR) with registration
number LSR 906 AG and a black Mercedes
Benz Bus with foreign number.
This spectacular seizure came few months
after the same Command arrested live
ammunition smuggled into the country
through the border, even as over 30 suspects
have been arrested under the supervision of
the current CAC. He said that the arrests were
made possible through increased security
measures in the Command.
During the visit, it was also observed that the
multiple checkpoints, which were everywhere
on Seme road had disappeared. On what
happened to them, the CAC said, “When I took
over, I realised the issue of multiple
checkpoints with unapproved routes
unmanned.
I posted officers to all the illegal routes where
we had constant information on goods that
came from unmanned routes within the
border. When we blocked those routes, people
started paying duty and gradually they
became used to having one checkpoint, due to
deployment of officers to unapproved routes.
Most times, I go to bed by 3 am and that does
not mean I can sleep, because I must watch
through cameras.
My phones are always on in case I have an
urgent issue to tackle. As the Chairman of all
security agencies in the border, I can reach
out to other security agencies at any time.”
He went on, “Smuggling is a global issue but
we must show strong commitment to tackle it.
If not, illegal trade will continue to undermine
government’s economic policies to grow local
industries.”
The Command also raked in N1. 1.billion
revenue for the month of September, 2016,
and over 76 seizures with DPV of
N67.7million. The CAC explained that the
amount generated surpassed the sum of
N883. 7Million collected within the same
period in 2015 with over N245.3million. “This
outstanding performance justifies our
determination to succeed. We must continue
to remain undaunted and cannot be deterred
in performing our statutory responsibility no
matter the challenge”, he stressed. Vanguard
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