A human rights group in Nigeria, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), is demanding the reopening of Nigerian boarders for importation of banned foreign goods in order to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerian.

In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the group also disclosed that the call became imperative after it had X-rayed how the men of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and smugglers were conniving to beat the Federal Government Special Task Force on the ban on importation of goods, thereby making the purported banned products to litter the Nigeria market.

It further alleged that men of the Nigerian Customs Service along Idiroko and Shaki axis of Ogun and Oyo states were in the habit of supervising and monitoring how the smugglers have smooth activities on their illegal business by opening their mini boarders in the night around the known national borders, pointing out that such acts of economic sabotage are contrary to the Change Manta of President Muhamamdu Buhari and his “Change Begins With Me” campaign.

In a letter dated Monday, April 10^th, 2017 signed by CHRSJ’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman, which he forwarded to President Buhari, the National Assembly leadership and Minister of Interior, he explained that all the actions of the affected Customs officials along the aforementioned axis were contrary to sections of 15(5) and 98 and 99 of the amended 1999 Constitution and criminal code of the Law of the Federation respectively.

The letter reads thus: “As a stakeholders in Nigeria projects, to report the satanic activities of the men of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) along our boarders, in particular, Idiroko and Shaki axis of Ogun and Oyo states respectively where Customs officials connived with the smugglers to smuggle all banned goods into the country with impunity.

“Although, we see your government ban on importation of goods, especially, food items, as a way to promote locally produced goods and as well developed our local industries but all these efforts are being thwarted and jeopardised by the men of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) because it shows clearly that they are not on the same page with Mr. President on the subject matter.

“We are perplexed with what we saw recently during our working private investigation visit to the Owode-Yewa to Idiroko axis of Ogun State where CHRSJ team discovered the connivance of the Customs Officers with smugglers and it may be difficult for government to tame this occurrence in our borders. The Idiroko axis comprises of Sango, Ota, Oju-Ore, Atan, Ihunbo, Owode-yewa, Ilase, Ogosa, Ajegunle, Ipokia, Ijofin and Agosasa. Others are; Ijofin, Beebe, Tuube, Ibatefin, Oke-Odan, Oko-eye, Igolo and Ajilete. That of Shaki axis comprises of Igbeti, Kisi, Igboho, Ago-Amodu and Shaki. These are the communities where they perpetrating their evil and satanic acts to the detriment of the masses.”

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