Senator Confesses, `My Father Was A Chief Smuggler`

Senator Nelson Effiong of Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district has confessed his dad was a smuggler in the 70s.

Effiong said this on Monday during a public hearing on smuggling organised by the Senate Committee on Customs, and Excise Duties.

The event, tagged “A threat to Nigeria’s quest to self sufficiency in Rice Production and operation of I’M and NESS” held on Monday in Abuja as the committee seeks to end illegal importation into the country.

“My father was not just a smuggler, he was a Chief Smuggler in the 70s,” said Senator Effiong.

“Let us be frank to ourselves, there is no smuggling without collaboration of Customs officers and from my father’s experience in smuggling, it is difficult dealing with smuggling in Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki, at the public hearing, decried the rate of deaths in the country resulting from consumption of substandard products imported into the country.

Saraki said: “A sanitization of the local rice production industry will in line with our legislative agenda encourage the government’s effort on the diversification of our economy. The impact of the outcome of this exercise on our local industry is huge as it will most definitely increase local rice production.

“No doubt, these smuggling have brought about the importation of unwholesome foods into our country, causing ill health and even deaths to our citizens. Nigerians deserve the best in what we consume and we must safeguard the health of our citizenry”, said the Senate President.