FG to check herders’ movement into country

The Federal Government is reviewing the enforcement of processes and certifications of foreigners entering Nigeria under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Free Movement of Goods and Persons Protocol.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this yesterday at Nigeria Customs Commands and Staff College, Gwagwalada in Abuja where he presented certificates to about 40 senior Customs officers after 5 month training tagged: Senior Division Course 1.

Osinbajo said government was working with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigeria immigration Service (NIS) and other agencies to review the Protocol through which herdsmen and livestock from other countries enter Nigeria to ensure they are duly certified and identified.

He noted that in the past the checks and certification required were hardly done. “So people and herders could move in from the North of Africa but most times, when they move in, all of the required certifications, identifications and processes that should be done under the protocol have never really been effected.

“So we are working now to ensure that all of those are done and that the protocol is not abused in a way that it was done in the past.

“It is important for us to ensure that while we respect international treaties, when those treaties threaten our territorial integrity, peace and security that we take very stringent action on this and that is precisely what we are doing now with the active collaboration of Customs and Immigration,” he said.