By Bon Peters
The Kebbi State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it is poised to facilitate legitimate trade as it has reopened the Kamba border in compliance with the directive of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Adewale Adeniyi.
The command’s image maker, Mr Mohammed Tajuddeen Salisu, a Superintendent of Customs, in a statement over the weekend, quoted the command’s Area Controller, Mr Iheanacho Ernest Ojike, as saying that Kamba is a strategic border with a major share in Kebbi revenue generation.
He insisted that the reopening of the border was aimed at paving the way for legitimate trade that would impact positively nation-building, not permission for the importation of prohibited items that would ransack the economy and compromise national security.
Recall that last Friday, Mr Ojike reopened the Kamba border for international trade as directed by Mr Adeniyi.
Speaking shortly after the reopening of the border amid District Head of Kamba, Mr Mamuda Fana, stakeholders and other sister agencies, Mr Ojike emphasised that officers and men of the command were 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 was permitted by customs extant laws, make proper declaration and pay appropriate duties to the federal government coffers even.
He warned that the exportation of grains out of the country was still prohibited due to the scarcity of food in the country.
Responding, Mr Fana commended the effort of the federal government, while maintaining that it was a new wave of hope for his people who have an interest in cross-border businesses, and even small-scale business owners domiciled in Kamba town and promised to caution his people on illegitimate trade.
Dipo Olowookere 
Adedapo Adesanya