The Nigeria Customs Service , Ogun 1 Area Command, on Tuesday, June 6, debunked the claim that the Idiroko land border in the state has been reopened for business.
The Controller of the state customs command, Bamidele Makinde, cleared the air while reacting to a viral video showing some Customs officers opening the border.
Makinde, while fielding questions from newsmen at a media briefing in Abeokuta, said Idi-Iroko border alongside three others had been reopened in 2022 by the immediate past administration.
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He said since then it had remained open for legitimate trade, noting that anyone who does business in the unapproved route would be intercepted.
He said, “The viral video on the media happened in April last year when the border was opened then. It was four borders that were opened. But, as we speak presently in Ogun State, we have more than six approved borders in lmeko, Ijofin, Ijoun and Ohunbe. It’s only Idi-Iroko that is open now, the others are still on lock.
“We are just public servants, we implement policies, whatever Abuja says we do, So, Idi-Iroko is open 24 /7; but we have not heard the notation to open the other borders.”
Meanwhile, the Customs impounded 6,924 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, equivalent to 11 trailer loads, between April and May.
He also listed other seizures recorded to include gallons of Premium Motor Spirit, used tyres; Cannabis Sativa; and other prohibited items.
Makinde added that “The sum of N34,174,105 was generated by the command for the period under review. Compared to N10,615,618.00 generated in the corresponding period of last year, 2022, there is a differential of N23,558,487.00, which is a significant increase of about 69 per cent.”
