The Olota of Otta, Oba Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege was on Thursday received at the Idiroko, Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Customs Service by the Area Comptroller, Agbara Ojobo Michael, other senior officers and men of the command.
The revered monarch was at the command to discuss with the authorities on how to find a lasting win-win solution to the recurring clashes between Rice Marketers and the Ogun State customs area command which has over the years resulted in so many avoidable deaths on both sides.
Alayeluwa commended the command for their professionalism in carrying out their constitutional duties within the state and also expressed his concern about the modus operandi of the command especially the frequent raids of Sango Otta market in search of foreign rice.
He advised the command to be more proactive and vigilant at the borders/entry points used for smuggling these products into the country instead of coming to the city to create tension during the raids.
Furthermore, the Olota restated his unalloyed support for the men and officers of the command and restated his resolve never to support any illegality in any form or shape while also noting that as a monarch that has the interest of his people at heart, he will not want to lose any of his subjects or have his domain unstable occasioned by clashes between the customs and the traders.
Olota also advised the command to come up with an advocacy solely aimed at educating the rice traders on the need to encourage and patronise locally produced rice.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Seriki of Otta, High Chief Olanrenwaju Bashorun advised the Nigerian Customs to explore other means of stopping the importation of rice most especially at the borders instead of market raids to avoid loss of life on the part of the traders or innocent citizen during the course of their operations.
In his reaction, the state command comptroller general, Agbara Ojobo Michael thanked the Olota of Otta, Oba Obalanlege and other stakeholders from Aworiland for the timely intervention.
He considered the visit as the beginning of good relationship between the command and Otta but warned he would not allow some individuals to turn Otta most especially Sango part of Otta as smuggling hub in the State.
He said most of the affected marketers are the warehouse owners who are operating inter-state smuggling and have chosen Otta as point of transit.
“The effort of the command is aimed at achieving one of the core functions of Customs, that is trade facilitation, and to passionately key into the Federal Government Executive Order, on ban of importation of rice,” the comptroller stated.
It was, however, resolved that a Town Hall Meeting will be organized at a later date where the Nigeria Customs, Traders and Stakeholders would be able to interact extensively with the view of proffering lasting solutions to the menace of smuggling in Otta and its environs.
Other dignitaries that accompanied his majesty includes; High Chief Olanrenwaju Bashorun (Seriki of Otta), High Chief Dayo Akindele Eleku (The Lisa of Otta), Chief Chief Segun Johnson(Otunba of Otta), Chief Ezekiel Bamisaye Fadipe (Aro of Otta) and Baale Maruff Alagbe (Baale of Eguishi).
