The Nigerian Navy ship, Beacroft has handed over 44 bags of foreign rice to the Nigerian Customs Service which was intercepted by its men on patrol
Speaking during the handover of the bags of rice to the Nigerian Customs Service on Friday, The Commander of the Nigerian Navy ship, Beacroft, Commodore Kola Ola Olumide Oguntuga disclosed that the seizure was made in the early hours of the 11th of October, through the surveillance system employed by the Nigerian Navy for the purpose of ensuring peace and tranquility within the maritime environment.
He said: “I’m talking about the Falcon Eye alignment used to detect activities of some economic saboteurs, operating within the maritime environment.
“The boats were vectored to these areas. And of course, what we saw was a fishing boat, a wooden fishing boat with these bags of rice.
“I know what the tactics they are doing now is to be bringing them in bits. But, like I said, the Nigerian Navy will continue to use its technological-based facilities to monitor the environment and bring these perpetrators to do.
“So what we are doing today now is to hand over these bags of rice to the Nigerian Customs Service under Operation Tripartite Order Patrol, which involves security agencies.
“That is why we are handing over these bags of rice to the Nigerian Customs Service.
“But it is also good for us to note that the Nigerian Navy will continue to be dedicated in its duties in collaborating with other agencies towards ensuring the maritime environment is safe and to also enforce laws and policies of the government.
“I am sure you are aware that the government has already banned the importation of rice in order to allow small and medium-scale enterprises to grow.
“That is what we are actually doing, to ensure that small and medium-scale enterprises in the country have space to grow. Because if we allow things like this to continue to enter into the market, how will our farmers, who are striving that the government is assisting with fertilizers and so many other things, how will they thrive?
“So, that is why we will continue to go after these unpatriotic individuals and make sure we do not allow them to continue to inflict additional hardship on small and medium-scale enterprises that are trying to survive in the country.”
The Commander urged Nigerians to exercise faith in the security agencies, and warned criminally minded people to desist.
“My word of advice to Nigerians is to believe in the security agencies, the military and other security and intelligence agencies,” he added. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the economic prosperity of their country thrives for the benefit of Nigeria and the good people of Nigeria.
“I want to use this opportunity also to warn perpetrators of this act to stop and desist from this act because we will continue to ensure that men are on patrol 24/7 to deter all these illicit activities.
“What we are doing today is to also emphasize the collaboration among the security agencies.
“Kudos should be given to the security agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for what they are doing because we are the ones that implement government policies.