The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Hamid Ali has ordered the immediate removal of all illegal Customs check-points across the country.
In a circular numbered: CNS/ENF/ABJ/032/S.35 and issued in Abuja, Ali gave the directive to the Acting Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, A.A. Dangaladima.
He said that the circular was sequel to the directive of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in the present administration’s determination to make doing business easier for the private sector, considered as the engine of growth.
According to the Customs boss, any check-point beyond 40 kilometers from the border would be deemed illegal.
Ali also clarified that Information Patrols beyond that point should not last more than 224 hours at any given time.
According to him, only two check-points at Agbara and Gbaji are approved along the Lagos-Badagry-Seme Road.
He warned that Zonal Coordinators, Comptrollers FOUs, CACs CIU and other units would be held responsible for flouting the directive.
The CGC would be expected to give a status update on its implementation at the next meeting of the PEBEC on August 15.
