Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari has called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to reconsider reopening the international entry points in Katsina as has been done in other states.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, the governor made the call during the customs/community consultative meeting organised by the Controller of Customs, Katsina Area Command, DC Dalha Wada Chedi.
The governor said closing the border for so long did not and will not yield the desired result until such closure was utilized to adequately educate the people on what is required of them.
“Our thought was that the customs authorities will come up with comprehensive and clear modalities on how people can go about their normal and lawful businesses with ease, such that by the time the borders are reopened, people will not go back to their old way of doing things.
“Closing the borders did not change the smuggling activities because people with their survival instinct will always find a means of their survival.
“What is happening in Maigatari is the same thing happening at Kamba, Illela and Jibia as well as other entry points, so the best way is to take adequate measures to ensure that the nation’s means of revenue is guaranteed,” he said.
He thanked the controller for the tremendous improvement in customs/community relations and urged him to sustain the tempo.
