Segun Showunmi in Ibadan
The Nigerian Senate has promised to intervene in the lingering crisis between the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) and rice traders in Ibadan markets following invasion of Oja’aba market by the custom officials alleged to have carted away about eight trucks loads of rice.
Penpushing reports that the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Teslim Folarin, while hosting Iftar (fast breaking) with members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, in his residence said that Senate will summon Controller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) overalleged invasion of some markets in Ibadan.
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Zone A, it is recalled had about one month ago invaded Bodija market where about eight truckloads of rice were carted away before the repeated incident at Oja’aba on Saturday.
Penpushing further reports that, Folarin, representing Oyo Central Federal constituency at the red chamber expressed displeasure over the incident, saying that the Senate was not happy over the midnight invasion of Bodija and Oja Oba markets by Customs officers.
The federal lawmaker stated that he has been discussing the matter with some of his colleagues and leadership of the Senate, adding that customs should be arresting smugglers at the borders, not within the town.
“I was not happy and because the Customs is a federal agency, what I intend to do this week is to raise it, I am going to speak with the leadership, we are not happy. It calls for a motion. We are going to invite the Customs CG to come and explain their action, they cannot do that, if you are going to arrest people, you should go and stay at the borders. Do not come to the town’, he said.
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