Customs Acquire Two Boats From Singapore To Fight Smuggling
Customs Acquire Two Boats From Singapore To Fight Smuggling
By Frank Odinukaeze
As a deliberate effort curb the menace of smuggling along the coastal waters ,two new oceangoing vessels have been ordered from Singapore by Nigeria Customs to complement its existing fleet comprising “MV Group of Nine and Customs Pride” and other crafts to suppress smuggling at sea.
In a chat with newsmen on Monday in Lagos, Customs Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Odaudu Salefu hinted that the service will soon transport the ships to Nigeria from Singapore as part of efforts to beach comb the seas against smuggling, oil theft and other maritime crimes.
According to Salefu the Actng Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi recently ordered that the consultant handling repair works on MV Group of Nine and Customs Pride deliver the boats before the end of November 2023
Salefu stated that the vessels are designed for high sea operations and that it would further aid personnel operations at sea.
He added that the boats will fight oil theft and smuggling across the stretch of Lagos down to Igbokoda in Ondo and prevent the smuggling of drugs, rice and other items along the waterways
The Comptroller further reiterated that the beachcoming unit of customs would also commence training of about forty personnel in various maritime training institutions, mostly Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron ahead of handing over the refurbished ships that are under renovation by the consultant; Port Plus Limited.
He maintained that 90% of drawer gas were intercepted at sea by personnel of the Western Marine Command but added that the unit can up the ante with the purchase of the new vessels.
Speaking on the moribund seagoing vessels at Marina waterfront, the controller re-echoed that the ships have suffered setbacks since their arrival to Nigerian waters but maintained that Port Plus Limited has sin too into action ahead of the November deadline date.
The Comptroller stressed that the CGC has paid a high premium for Western Marine Command to thrive as part of efforts to curb smuggling activities in the nation’s waterways.
One of the old boats currently undergoing repairs
He also explained that aside from the refurbishment of the seagoing vessels, the consultant has placed the two ships for dry docking at Niger Dock PLC noting that the service is leaving no stone unturned for the ships to commence operations.
He recalled that the repair works of MV Customs Pride and Group of Nine by the Nigerian Navy were stalled but assured that the ships are to sail as directed by the CGC by November 2023.
The WMC and other area officers will be gathered together for training and retraining while the Acting CGC has sent some officers to Singapore for training and more will be going to other countries for capacity building
Salefu also revealed that the CGC has ordered the that faulty vessels be repaired and be operational before November.
