By Stephen Ubanna
James Ojo, a Customs Comptroller and Area Controller, Ogun I, Idiroko, Command, overseeing the anti-smuggling operations in the home state of former President Olusegun Obasanjo that has over 90 illegal border routes between Nigerian and neighbouring Republic of Benin may have read the handwriting on the wall that he needed the blessings of the Royal Fathers and Collaboration of the security Chiefs in the state to effective combat smuggling activities in the state.
The Customs Comptroller may have used the over last four months to test the waters in prosecuting the anti-smuggling war in the south western state without identifying with the traditional institution and knowing the other security agencies Chiefs in the state one-on- one to seek their support and collaboration in the state.
Taking a cue from Compt. Shuaibu Ahmadou Bello, a former Area Controller of the Command, who has been redeployed to Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone B, Kaduna, described as the core of the Customs Anti-smuggling operations because of the too many border routes betweenNigeria and neighbouring Republic of Niger.
Indeed,from Katsina,home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Zamfara, described as a home state of the Bandits Group, Sokoto, which has over 35 illegal routes in Illela, a border Community to Kebbi and the north central states of Kwara and Niger states the story is the same: too many illegal border routes between two West African countries.
Compt. Ooj , who is not ready to give a breather to the smugglers operating between Nigeria and Benin Republic, may have sent a message to the smugglers that it is no longer going to be business as usual as he visits Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland , and other prominent traditional rulers in the Ipokia, Yewa South, and Imeko Fon to rub minds and sell his programmes to them.
Given an insider information of the Customs Comptroller visits to the traditional rulers and sister security agencies Chiefs in the state, Hammed Oloyede, a Chief Superintendent of Customs, and the Command spokesperson, who is well groomed on the on the job, having worked under two former Area Controllers of the Command in the same capacity, had said that the Ogun I, Area Controller was given a rousing welcome in all the places visited.
At the Oba Gbadebo Plalace, the Ogun I, Customs helmsman , was said to have told the Alake of Egbaland that the visit to his Kingdom was aimed at druming his support and to foster sustainable collaboration and synergy to enhance economic growth along Nigeria’s border Communities with the Republic of Benin ‘’ through intelligence sharing of information and collaborative anti-smuggling operations’’.
The Customs Comptroller taking t was said to have taken the opportunity of the visit to the Alake of Egbaland to visit several other traditional Rulers within the Command area of Jurisdictions in the state. He was said to have expressed deep appreciation for’’ the unwavering support’’ of the traditional rulers to his Administration since he assumed duties last February.
He may have gladened the heart of the Royal Fathers when he emphasized the role played by them in effectively’’ sustaining peace, order and security within the border Communities’’. There had been instances in the past when Law and order had broken down at the Idiroko and Ilaro axis of the state but the quick intervention of the traditional rulers was said to have saved the situation from degenerating.
This may have informed why Compt. Ojo, had highlighted’’ the importance of leveraging on the traditional institutions’ influence and insights to enhance border security to sustain the tempo of anti-smuggling activities inherited from his predecessor, Compt. Shuaibu.
The Ogun I, Area Controller, who is determined to succeed in his new national assignment, was said to have had useful discussions with the Obas and security Chiefs of the sister security agencies visited in the state .
There is no gain saying the fact that the Customs Comptroller recent engagements with the traditional rulers and the security agencies Chiefs in Ogun state underscores ‘’ the need for continuous and robust collaboration among the tradional institution and the sister security agencies in the south western state to be able to address the challenges posed by smuggling and other cross-border crimes like child trafficking.
The Ogun Customs boss, who may have spoken the mind of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the Customs Comptroller General, was said to have informed the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies Chiefs visited that ‘’by sharing intelligence, resources and expertise’’ , the Command and the agencies can create a formidable front against those who seek ‘’to undermine the country’s economic stability and national security’’.
A close observer of the activities of the Command over the last one year, had said that that the Area Controller’s visit to the traditional Rulers and sister security agencies Chiefs in the state actually ‘’ aligns with the policy thrusts of the Customs Comptroller General, who had repeatedly emphasized ‘’the principles of consolidation, collaboration and innovation’’ of his Administration.
As a prelude to prosecuting the anti-smuggling war this time around without playing to the gallery, Compt. Ojo, who was aid to have reiterated ‘’the Commitment of the Ogun I, Command to the Comptroller General policy thrusts, had said that that the ongoing engagements with the Traditional rulers and the sister security agencies Chiefs are really crucial for ‘’fostering a secure and prosperous environment for the people of Ogun state and Nigeria at large’’.
He was aid to have also used the opportunity of the recent visit to the traditional rulers and sister security agencies Chiefs ‘’to acknowledge the strategic importance of the state ‘s border Communities with Benin Republic’’ and’’ the need to form a united front in combating smuggling and other economic crimes in the state’’.
With the assurance from all the traditional ruler and the security agencies Chiefs visited of ‘’improved working relationship’’ may have emboldened Comptroller Ojo to declared that ‘’the Command will continue to implement intelligent and innovative strategies to safeguard the nation’ land border communities and its environs to promote economic growth’’.
An informed source had told The Value News online Magazine that ‘’the responses from all the stakeholders visited by the Customs Comptroller and his Management team were ‘’positive and impressive’’.
It was not surprising why an agent had said the Ogun I, Area Controller could decide to go to sleep with all eyes closed as the Nigerian Police Force, NPF,, 35 Artillery Brigade o of the Nigeria Army , Federal Road Safety Corps , FRSC, Defence Intelligence Adency, DIA, and Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, Authorities , among others , are o ground to provide support and c him with the needed support and collaboration in combating the activities of the smugglers and other economic crimes in all nooks and cannies of the state.
Compt. Ojo, who was said to have expressed optimism about the positive outcomes of the visit to the traditional rulers and sister agencies security Chiefs, had told those that cares to listen that it will go a long way ‘’to strengthen the relationships between the service and the sister security agencies .This may have informed why he has called for ‘’the ongoing cooperation, vigilance and commitment to tackling the challenges ahead to be sustained’’.
The Customs Ogun I, Customs helmsman , who may not be in the class of the anti-smuggling Czars like Comptrollers Shuaibu, Kehinde Hussain Ejibunu, a former Area Controller of FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve centre, and now overseeing the newly established Operation Whirlwind, which has the mandate to stop smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popular, petrol, across the nation’s border areas or Ben Oramalugo, Oyo/Osun Command , who have established track records in anti-smuggling operation but optimistic that he will succeed in the Command anti-smuggling operations in’’ the spirit of unity , shared purpose and with the support and collaboration of the traditional rulers and sister agencies. Vintage Ojo.
