Lauretta Onochie Reacts To Allegation Of Customs Officer Collecting Bribe

President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has reacted to the reports making rounds that the men of Nigeria Customs Service at the Nigeria-Seme border are collecting bribes despite border closure.

The Nigerian government closed its borders some months ago to curb smuggling activities, though it recently announced that it may consider reopening the borders on January 31, 2020.

The development was revealed in a circular dated November 1, 2019 (NCS/ENF/ABJ/221/S.45) and signed by the Comptroller of Customs in charge of enforcement, Victor David Dimka, to the Sector Coordinators, joint border operations drill (Exercise Swift Response), Sectors 1, 2, 3 & 4.

The accusation of collecting bribes at the Nigeria-Seme border was levelled against Customs officers by a Twitter user.

He wrote, “If Buhari did not know, he should know now that borders are not closed oo. I was at seme border, you give custom money and pass, depending on your car.”

“Big car N100,000 and the smaller ones in price is N50,000 and no receipt. All those customs at borders are making huge money daily”.

President Buhari’s Special Assistant on social media, Lauretta Onochie, in her reaction said the situation has been reported to the appropriate authority for necessary action.

Onochie took to her Twitter account and wrote, “Thank you for this information, it has been passed on and it’s being investigated.”