Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Border Closure: Questions for Rtd Col Hameed Ali!
Comptroller General Sir,
You have anchored your border closure tactics to stem trade imbalances through smuggling on two key goods Rice imports and smuggled Petrol exports how do you address the cost and loss of benefits as it affects other goods and services, do you have econometric analyses that suggest you have chosen the maximizing or optimizing options?
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| Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali (retd) |
On Rice imports, can you show the nation the exact data beyond anecdotes to indicate that internal Rice production adequately meets internal demand and projected food security needs?
Beside border closure what other more sustainable options do you have or have proposed to the government to address the problems?
Have you considered that if government purchases 5kg of Rice from farmers and re-sell at #300-#500 less the purchasing price to 1million low income workers on government payroll it will guarantee farmers a market of about 5 metric tons of rice and if states do same, even more, farmers will benefit, and that this can collapse the cross border demand significantly more effectively than border closure which is daily undermined by Custom officers?
Have you considered that the rice procured through our neighbours' Ports to Nigeria can be an opportunity rather than a threat if Nigeria controls and incentivizes the process rather than fight it?
Have you considered that Nigeria can dedicate two Port cities to these purchases insist on quality and pricing and also that repackaging and other value addition should be conducted in Dry Port Towns and thereby create jobs, balance imports with local production and ensure food security?
What efforts are in place to make Port activities painless and seamless?
Which is easier, to close borders to reduce export smuggling of imported PMP or to encourage modular refineries in Nigeria and rather than export crude and import products for our neighbours to steal but instead become the West African source of cheaper refined petroleum products?
Why is it that the CG sees Nigerian business people as thieves and criminals rather than partners and compatriots that need his help and motivation, does he realise that Custom revenue relies on their activities?
Have you considered that under a truly federal government you are tempering with the trade policies of 36 State jurisdictions without consulting with their economic and planning Commissioners?
It is my humble submission CG Sir, that you need to review your actions more objectively because you do not know or have not given yourself the opportunity to know all the possible options because you are unwilling to put your biases and prejudices aside.
The APC promised Nigerians progress, not punishments and pains.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria
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