Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has charged men of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to curb smuggling and ensure that international borders in Ogun State are effectively manned.

The governor who gave this charge, on Thursday, when the management team of the Nigerian Customs Service led by its Comptroller General, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), paid him a courtesy visit at his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office, said this was necessary in order to raise adequate revenue for the country.

Speaking while receiving the Customs Service delegation, Governor Amosun said Ogun State is strategic for the success of the Customs Service because it is the state with the highest number of land borders in Nigeria.

Apart from that, he said Ogun State is also currently home to the highest number of industries in Nigeria.

“It is so important for the Customs to be alive to their responsibilities. If the economy must be active, then the Customs must be active,” Governor Amosun said.

The Ogun State Governor also spoke about how the construction of the Ilara-Ijoun road, a 110km highway being built by the state government, will go a long way in helping the Customs Service in doing its job.

This is because the road runs through the four local governments in the Ogun West Senatorial district, the area bordering the neighbouring Republic of Benin.

“With that road, you now know that all you have to do is put your men there as anyone coming into Nigeria from that region will have to pass through the road,” Governor Amosun said.

Speaking earlier, Ali informed the Ogun State governor about the strategic importance the Nigerian Customs Service attaches to the state. Ogun State has the highest number of industries in Nigeria and we are working very hard to ensure that we increase our Excise Duties collection because right now we are only collecting Excise Duties from Alcohol and tobacco industries,” Ali said.

The Customs boss also explained that in the face of dwindling oil revenue, Nigeria needs to increase its earnings from Excise Duties as this would also signify the growth of the local industry.

•Photo showsOgun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in a group photograph with the management team of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS when they paid the governor a courtesy visit at his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office on Thursday.