Trail Blazing Effect of Western Marine Command, Ibafon

…2019 Annual Report

By lsaac Orieka

The statutory function of the Western Marine Command Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos is strictly designed to curb smuggling and to enforce the extant Laws assigned to the Command .The operational axis covers the entire south western water-ways and Creeks in Nigeria.
Creekvibes magazine gathered that the Command has strong outstations namely in ldiroko, Ogun state, Bar Breach, entry point of all ships/vessels into Lagos ports, Yekeme, lgbokoda, Ondo state, ljora and Badagary, including several other Creeks in the country.
For 2019, the CAC rolled out new strategies with the purpose of achieving maximum and efficient operations, Such as, a 24hrs patrol of the Creeks and water front’s of the western axis by officers and men of the Command. Also, ‘Operation Total Blockade’ was introduced to strengthen the Command’s fire power to stop smugglers from engaging in their illicit trade.

Several interactive meetings were held with the communities from Akere, Idiroko, Ere, Badagary and Yekeme outstations in order to enlighten the communities of the ills and dangers of smuggling to the Nigerian economy. The meetings have brought a huge reduction of the business of smuggling along the Creeks and water ways in the area.
Following the success of ‘Operation Border Drill’, the CAC decided to build an outpost at lbeshe community a major route leading to the high sea to checkmate smuggling business. The Command has its officers and men patrolling the location 24hrs everyday. This effort has led to a dramatic seizure of so many contraband goods during the 2019 festival season.
These measures have tremendously improved the Command’s anti-smuggling campaign. This period 2019,a total of 30 illegal items were seized. Ranging from foreign parboiled rice, frozen produce, cannabis, petroleum products second hand shoes and clothes, security agency uniforms, plain materials and wrappers, Tramadol, Buffalo horns, etc.lt should be noted that the anti-smuggling war in 2019 was much more higher than the year 2018 record.
The Duty Paid Value (DPV),for 2019, is (N129,559,656.46.).That is one hundred and twenty nine million, five hundred and fifty nine thousand, six hundred and fifty six naira, forty six kobo only. Which is above the (98,164,865.17). Ninety Eight million, one Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Six Five Naira, seventeen kobo. This seizures and money took place at different locations within the Command’s area of jurisdiction.
However, the seized items were recovered from communities like Aseke, Choki, lbeshe beach, Ere, Akere, high sea, ldiroko, Badagary, Bawa, Alaba market water side. The commissioning of the Customs Sea- going vessels in 2019, in Lagos, is a strategy tour booster the anti- smuggling effort of the Command.
2019 Performance INDEX
40 officers of both Eastern and Western Marine Command were trained in a course tagged ‘in-country training’ on how to handle and use the new sea going vessels acquired the Command recently. This is meant to upscale the morale and other safety rules while on- board the vessels on sea.
Also, in 2019, WMC CAC, represented the Comptroller General Of Customs (CGC),on the ‘Operation Junction Rain’ (OJR) at the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos. Two officers of the Command participated in the operation at the high sea which took them to the Gulf of Guinea and other West African countries.