Nigeria, Benin Customs To Tackle Arms Proliferation

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The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko, and his Beninoise counterpart, Colonel Soussia Theophile, yesterday, resolved to end the smuggling of hard drugs and proliferation of light weapons within the region.

The two Customs heads pledged to work together to exchange intelligence and methodology to fight the menace which is threatening to destroy the region.

This position was taken when Theophile, the Director General of Customs, Republic of Benin, paid a working visit to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja to discuss issues concerning border security.

Speaking during the meeting, Dikko noted that although the countries were divided by language and culture, the Customs administrations must work as brothers to ensure security of the borders and the people.

He said: ‘’We are having problem of proliferation of small arms and hard drugs in the region and we need to find a solution to this problem that is threatening to destroy our region.

‘’We need to discuss and address the issue so that both governments and citizens can move about without the fear of arms or drugs destroying our region.’’

Dikko, who is also the World Customs Organisation’s (WCO) Vice Chair, for West and Central Africa region, assured the DG that those involved in legitimate business will have free access through the borders but those who are not ready to do legitimate business will be fished out and served due punishment.

In his remarks, the Benin Customs DG, stressed that both countries were like one family and must work together to achieve the common mission.

Theophile called for the need for both countries to harmonise methods to fight the menace, stating that ‘’anybody who will constitute hindrance to the strategy must be taken aside.’’

He expressed optimism that the work group put together by both countries would come up with a successful way forward, noting that a consolidated framework which would allow both countries to express and solve their challenges through exchange of regulations was necessary.

 


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