Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.

The Kebbi State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said that its decision to reopen the Kamba Border in the state, which had been shut over a period of time was in line with efforts to promote and facilitate legitimate trade and commerce.

The reopening of the border is sequel to earlier directive by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR to that effect.

Speaking at the official reopening of the border, Friday in Kebbi State, Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, said the reopening of the border was to promote legitimate international trade and commerce.

The Comptroller, who was joined in the brief reopening ceremony by the district head of Kamba community, Alhaji Mamuda Fana, stakeholders and other sister agencies, said Kamba remains a strategic border with major share in Kebbi revenue generation. He therefore warned that officers and men of the command would be on ground to enforce government’s fiscal and other trade policies.

Comptroller Ojike said: “The reopening of this border today as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs is aimed at paving way for legitimate trade that would impact positively on nation building. It is not a permission for importation of prohibited items that would adversely affect the economy and compromise national security.

“Going forward, officers and men of the command are ever ready to facilitate legitimate trade and act within the ambit of the law to simplify trade across Kamba Border seamlessly as long as stakeholders import what is permitted by Customs extant laws, make proper declaration and pay appropriate duties to the Federal Government coffers.

“More importantly, I wish to remind all stakeholders within the border community that food grains are still prohibited for export out of the country, considering the scarcity of food in the country.”

Meanwhile, the district head of the Kamba community, Alhaji Fana, who also spoke during the occasion, commended the federal government for its efforts towards the reopening of the border.

He noted that the event brings a new wave of hope to the people of Kamba, who have interest in cross-border businesses, adding that even small scale business owners domiciled in Kamba town would also benefit from the gesture.

The district head therefore promised to caution his people on the need for indulging in illegitimate trade alone in order to avoid drastic consequences that might arise from doing otherwise.

A highpoint of the event was a courtesy visit by the CAC to the Emir of Gwandu Major General Muhammed Bashir Iliyasu (Rtd) to seek his blessings and cooperation as the royal father of the state. He also visited other sister agencies to seek their mutual cooperation and collaboration towards ensuring steady flow of legitimate trade across borders, curb smuggling activities and provide security to the host communities.