Police To Collaborate With NAQS To Curb Extortions On Transporters Of Agric Products
L-R: NAQS Legal Adviser, Barr. A. O. Omosa; Zonal Coordinator NC, Dr. Sunday Audu; Station Coordinator NAIA, Barr. Igomu; Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; NAQS Coordinating Director, Dr. Vincent Isegbe; Director Lab. Mgt. Services, Dr. Habib Maimuna and Director Animal Quarantine Department, Dr. Akinjo Abiodun during the meeting at Louis Edet House, Nigerian Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.[/caption]
The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and the Nigeria Police are to collaborate to eliminate extortions on transporters of agricultural products across the federation.
This was the outcome of a meeting held Tuesday between the management of the NAQS and the Nigeria Police to discuss the synergy to checkmate incidences of extortions on transporters of agricultural commodities.
The coordinating director of NAQS, Dr Vincent Isegbe, who led NAQS’ team, informed the inspector general of police that NAQS was created for disease/pest surveillance aimed at safeguarding the nation’s agricultural economy, and regretted that some states turned the surveillance outlets into revenue collection points.
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He said, “The misuse of the outlets leads to hikes on the prices of agricultural commodities as well as post-harvest losses incurred by farmers because of delays at illegal checkpoints, which is contrary to the federal government’s economic diversification policy.”
Dr Isegbe called on the IGP to strengthen the S-Squad of the Nigeria Police at commands to work effectively with the NAQS field officers in curbing the menace, and commended the IG’s proactive efforts at curtailing the excesses of hoodlums parading as revenue collectors on federal highways.
Mr Ibrahim Idris, in a speech, commended the NAQS for being alive to its responsibilities, and promised the cooperation of the police to guarantee smooth operations of the NAQS nationwide.
