By Bon Peters
The Nigeria Customs Service Area 1 Command Port Harcourt, Rivers State, says it is seeking collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on National Security.
This disclosure was made, on Thursday, in a press release made available to reporters by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs Oscar Ivara, on a courtesy visit by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mustapha Hashim to the Zonal Command of the Anti-Graft agency in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital.
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Speaking on the relationship between the two sister government agencies, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Mustapha Hashim stated that the roles of the Nigeria Customs Service and that of the EFCC are intertwined, noting that both agencies are geared towards achieving a common National Interest and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Hashim, who stated that the visit was to seek further cooperation with the EFCC in the areas of intelligence gathering and information sharing, emphasized that the efforts being put in place by the Nigeria Customs Service to generate revenue, suppress smuggling and facilitate international trade cannot be totally achieved if all security agencies in the country do not work in synergy.
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Speaking on the achievements recorded in the command so far, Comptroller Hashim disclosed that despite the low influx of container vessels, calling at the port and other technicalities involving freight differential, the command was able to generate and collect the total sum of N17,065,088,490.16 in the month of January 2024 thereby surpassing the mandated 2024 monthly revenue target of N15,361,810,843.47 with a surplus of N1.713,277,636.7.
In his reaction, the Zonal Commander of the EFCC, ACE 1 Ahmed Ghali maintained that “the act establishing the EFCC also empowered the agency to beam its searchlights on smuggling activities in the Country, with special attention on money laundering.”
He insisted that it was imperative for both agencies to work together to protect the Nation from unwholesome activities of Economic saboteurs even as he went further to congratulate the Customs Controller on his revenue drive and achievements made, assuring him of his agency’s support and collaboration in any area of need.
