The Controller of Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs
Service, Mr Zakka Audu, has said that facilities at the command were being
upgraded for effective monitoring of the high seas.

Audu told our correspondent in Lagos that the command would
soon receive some sea-going vessels.

It would be  recall
that the Federal Executive Council recently approved two sea-going vessels for
the command in a bid to empower it.

The controller said that he was optimistic that facilities
at the command would soon be of international standard

Audu said that the command would undergo drastic changes
whenever the vessels were released.

“Our jurisdiction is purely on water and creeks.

“Hitherto, we have been unable to reach the high seas, but
with the approval of these vessels, our command will become more effective in
monitoring the high seas.

“All the seizures we have been making so far have been in
the creeks and rivers, while the smugglers bring in ships which they anchor on
the high seas where we are unable to reach,’’
Audu said.

He said that an Assistant Comptroller-General was assigned
by the Comptroller-General of Customs to inspect facilities at the command with
a view to upgrading them.

Audu said that various capacity building programmes were
currently on at the command.

The controller said that the training included the use of
weapons, swimming classes and others.

Meanwhile, Mr Zakari Chado, the Public Relations Officer of
the command, said the command recorded six seizures valued at N3.01million in
September.

He said that the estimated duty paid value of the seized
items was N3.21 million.

Chado said that the seizures included poultry products, rice
and petrol.

He said that the seizures were made at Idiroko, Yekeme and
Badagry.

He said that the items were abandoned on the waterways by
smugglers on sighting customs patrol boats.