Bight Newspaper gathered that the Governor of Katsina State, Mallon Dikko Umaru Rhada, has called on the Nigeria Customs service in the state to perform their duty with maximum diligence and professionalism, urging them to abstain from molesting civilians.
Gov. Radda made the appeal when the newly posted Comptroller of Customs Sevices, Compt. Umar Mohammed Abubakar, paid him a courtesy visit at the Katsina State Government House on Wednesday.
The Governor assured the State Command of Customs Services on the government support on its discharge of constitutional duties.
The Governor said the relationship between Customs personnel and stakeholders along border axes in the State is now improving, compared to the past when innocent citizens on transit to border communities were treat with unnecessary harassment and intimidations from Customs officials.
He stressed that the State Government would not in any way stop Custom officials from discharging their responsibilities.
“But at the same time, we will not allow our citizens to be subjected to unnecessary intimidations,” he noted.
Radda recalled that the State Government organized a meeting to intervene between Jibia communities and the immediate-past State Comptroller of Customs, where stakeholders drew the attention of the Customs management on how to strengthen relationships with communities along Katsina’s border axes.
The Katsina Governor urged the new Katsina Customs Comptroller to engage relevant stakeholders at border areas in the State, with the sole purpose of enlightening them about the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle inflow of drugs and weapons, among other contrabands, into the country.
Earlier, Mr. Muhammad Abubakar said his visit was to register his presence to the State Government as the new Customs’ Comptroller posted to the Katsina Area Command.
While promising to meet with heads of sister security agencies in Katsina, the Customs Comptroller assured that he would create an enabling environment for Katsina businessmen and women to conduct their legitimate businesses within and around border areas in the State.
