Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has pleaded with Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) operatives to be civil with market ladies and men in response to complaints about shop and warehouse invasions in markets throughout the state.
Traders in the state accused Customs officers of breaking into their shops and warehouses to seek illicit items.
Governor Abiodun appealed on Thursday when receiving the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, at his office.
Governor Abiodun emphasized that, while there would undoubtedly be some unscrupulous persons who will be found wanting on the matter of smuggling, he insisted that the vast majority of people in the state follow the law.
He added that in order to accomplish peaceful engagement and economic development in the state, there must be peaceful interaction between the security agencies and traders.
Abiodun said:
“There is an issue of paramount importance I want to discuss with the CG; it is about our market women and men. I don’t know how they got to know that you are coming here today, but they have bitterly complained that your men break into their shops and warehouses while looking for smuggled goods. They were even planning to come and protest here.
“I want to say that our people in the state are law-abiding. I am not saying that there are not some unscrupulous people who could be committing this crime, but the majority of our people are doing legitimate business.
“I want the Comptroller General to address this issue and talk to his officers in the state to be civil in their operations and engagement with our market women and men.”
In his reaction, the Customs commander condemned any sort of market invasion, expressing disappointment and promising to look into the case for restitution.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
