The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has approved the dissolution of the CGC’s Strike Force Teams with immediate effect.
A statement released Wednesday, 19th July, by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, adds that Adeniyi has equally directed the Federal Operations Units (FOUs) to take over all the responsibilities of the dissolved teams across the federation henceforth.
According to the statement, the order for the dissolution of the Strike Force Teams, emplaced by the former Customs Chief, Hameed Ali (rtd), was given in a bid to promote best practices and enhance trade facilitation.
The Ag. CGC, while charging the Federal Operations Units and other Enforcement formations with the marching order to use all the instruments of law available to discharge their duties, also directed strict adherence to enshrined Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and rules of engagement while dealing decisively with economic saboteurs.
The statement added that, “to ensure transparency and accountability, all anti-smuggling formations have also been mandated to boldly ascribe their names on all operational vehicles to checkmate the possibility of excesses, misconduct and human rights abuse”.
The Ag. CGC, in his maiden address, had stated unequivocally that all encumbrances and other obstacles to trade facilitation would be dismantled while fostering a new culture of consultation and compliance.
