Monarchs in Ogun State have urged traders across the state to desist from selling contraband items and pursue legitimate commercial activities to avoid contravening the laws.
Speaking on Tuesday while hosting the new controller of Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Comptroller Makinde Bamidele, the Alake of Abeokuta and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and the Agura of Gbaguraland, Oba Sabur Babajide Bakre urged traders in the state to obey the laws guiding trading activities and shun rice smuggling, illegal importation of vehicles, as well as frozen chickens, among others.
Makinde, while speaking at the palaces of the two monarchs, said his command understood the roles of the traditional rulers as a grassroots institution highly necessary in the crusade against smuggling, particularly when citizenry enlightenment is needed.
He noted that the current synergy between Customs and the traditional institution in Ogun State must be sustained towards ensuring seamless societal trading activities across the state,.
Makinde however, urged the monarch not to relent in their efforts, but continually enlighten their subjects on the dangers and the economic implications of dealing in smuggled items, notwithstanding the current economic situations of the country.
In his response, the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo pledged the supports of the traditional rulers in the state for the Customs towards ensuring that smuggling activities are suppressed across the state.
Oba Gbadebo however, declared that his palace would not disturb the Customs’ operations in the state, but continually pray for the successes of the NCS personnel because of the enormous tasks they render to the country with dedication.
In his own response, Oba Bakre assured the new NCS Controller that the traditional institution in the state would do their best towards ensuring that the traders in their respective domains embrace legitimate trading, stressing that crimes is not a way out of the current economic hardship being experienced nationwide.