Olota Meets Customs Officials, Seeks Protection Of Lives, Property
By Olu Osikoya, Abeokuta
As part of efforts to ensure safety of lives and property in Ota area, the Olota of Ota, Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Obalanlege, has called on the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Command, to find a lasting solution to the incessant clashes between rice marketers and its officials.
The Monarch, who met with Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Agbara, Michael Ojobo at the Idiroko Command Office, expressed concern at the frequent raids at Sango-Ota market in search of foreign rice by Custom Officials.
While charging the Command to be proactive at the border posts, rather than coming into the city to create tension during raids, the Oba expressed his resolve not to support illegality of any form, urging the Customs to come up with an advocacy, aimed at educating the rice traders on the need to encourage and patronize locally produced rice.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Seriki of Ota, High Chief Olanrewaju Bashorun, advised the Nigeria customs to explore other means of stopping the smugglers at the borders, instead of raiding markets to avoid loss of lives.
Responding, Comptroller Ojobo, thanked Olota and other stakeholders from Aworiland for their timely intervention, describing the visit as the beginning of good relationship between the Command and Ota residents.
The Comptroller warned that he would not allow individuals to turn Ota, especially Sango into a smuggling hub in the State.
“Most of the affected marketers are the ware house owners, who are operating interstate smuggling and have chosen Ota as a transit point. Our efforts are aimed at achieving one of the core functions of customs, which is trade facilitation and to passionately key into the Federal Government Executive order on ban of imported rice”, he submitted.
He disclosed that an interactive town hall meeting would be organized between customs, traders and other stakeholders, to proffer lasting solution to the issue.
