The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR has charged the customs officers operating in the State to moderate and modest with residents in discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
Abiodun gave the charge while playing host to the State Area commander of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Ojobo Michael Agbara.
At the meeting, the Governor made the Customs Service understand that in carrying out their duty of revenue generation, they should do so with regard for human lives. He added that the setting up of Mobile Courts has helped bring to the notice of the people of the State that the pandemic is no child’s play.
“In carrying out your duties, you have to do it with the divine milk of human kindness and ensure that fatalities are not recorded while carrying out your activities, because we know the situation we are in now. Everywhere is tensed, and we need to just have a balance between having to generate revenue and then considering the lives of the people. The setting up of the Mobile Court has helped a lot, because it has brought about a sort of sensitisation to the people that Covid-19 is not ‘for fun,’” he said.
The Comptroller, Nigerian Customs Service, Ogun 1 Command, Comptroller Ojobo Micheal Agbara in his reaction described Ogun State as a peaceful state and a worthy partner in the progress of the nation, noting that his Command will continue to do the needful at ensuring that the border communities of the State are secure against economic saboteurs.
Comptroller Agbara, who made this known at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, shortly after he had a meeting with the State Governor on the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service in the State, described the Governor as a father-figure and an experienced leader who in the past eleven months of coming into power had been aiming for a well-structured security architecture.
Agbara, who was with his Ogun 2 Command Comptroller of the Customs Service, Comptroller Gregory Itotoh, and the Brigade Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Brigadier General Ehimwenman Amadasun, also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide phenomenon which needs all hands to be on deck, urging the people of the State to follow all guidelines and advisory by the government.
“Our meeting with the Governor was very fruitful. He is a father and an experienced man who has seen the whole world. He knows what Customs is all about. Generally, Ogun State people are peaceful, but COVID-19 is a worldwide phenomenon that spares nobody, so we should all do what we can and should do to ensure that it does not spread further. All we need to do is keep to the guidelines and ensure that people comply,” he said.
