Senate calls for sanctions on Customs personnel misusing firearms

The Nigerian Senate has urged the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to take disciplinary action against any personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) found guilty of misusing firearms at the country’s borders. This recommendation comes in response to concerns about the alleged misuse of firearms by NCS officers.

As part of its findings, the Senate also recommended the installation of long-range cameras at border checkpoints nationwide to monitor and deter smugglers of prohibited goods. Additionally, the Senate suggested the use of scanner equipment at all land borders and seaports to combat the smuggling of prohibited products into the country.

These recommendations were presented in a report by Senator Francis Fadahunsi, the chairman of an ad hoc committee established in July to investigate the alleged misuse of firearms by NCS personnel.

Senator Fadahunsi emphasized the need for a reduction in the number of checkpoints in border communities to facilitate the free flow of goods and services, urging the Federal Government to direct the Comptroller General of Customs and other security heads to implement this change. He also called for an investigation into border activities and for the punishment of officers found guilty of firearm abuse.

The committee recommended the recruitment of youths from border communities into the NCS and the adoption of modern technologies to enhance the effectiveness of Customs personnel. It proposed the use of helicopters for monitoring smugglers’ activities and the utilization of speed boats in riverine border communities.

Furthermore, the committee advised that seized items should be auctioned periodically to prevent liquidation. It placed responsibility on the comptrollers of customs in Idiroko, Katsina, and Kaduna for failing to establish positive relationships with their host communities, recommending the redeployment of these officers and the appointment of replacements who could build stronger community engagement.

The report also addressed the 20-kilometer ban on the sale of petroleum products in border communities, labeling it a threat to peaceful coexistence and a source of hardship in these areas. The Senate recommended that the ban be lifted to ensure the rights and well-being of these communities.