Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) in collaboration with Odeyemi Suwebat Funmilola, Thursday, through its annual program tagged “Community Peace Project for the People of Yewa South LG”, enjoined residents of border towns to shun all acts of smuggling and embrace dignifying businesses.
The guest speaker, SC Hamed Bukoye Oloyede, the Ogun I Customs Area Command’s spokesperson, speaking on the theme, “Addressing the Negative Consequences of Smuggling on the Lives of People of Yewa South LGA”, established that the overall cost of any illegitimate business doesn’t worth the risks.Oloyede, discussing with eminent stakeholders at the ASUP Hall of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, said “Smuggling is inimical to the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of Yewa South Local Government, leading to loss of lives and properties”, as well as “health implication”, adding that “it inflict gross financial loss to perpetrators and increase economic hardship to members of the communit”.
He therefore proffers that “members of the host communities should be better informed on the mandate of Customs in Ogun State, dissociate themselves from smuggling activities, and be friendly with Customs operatives”.
Conclusively, he said, “Ogun I Area Command of NCS is trying its best” to foster “a good community relations and given back to the society through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“The Command has standard schools with qualified teachers and subsidized school fees for the benefit of the community. We have clinic and water facility extended to the community. There are many other things we engaged our host communities for a better living. We shall continue the CSR within our capacity”, the Customs spokesperson assured.
In his remark, the DPO of Ilaro, CSP Olayinka Kuye, during a five-man panel discussion led by Dr Saheed Timehin, Senior Lecturer, Department of Foreign Language, Lagos State University, advised parents to take special interest in their children’s choosing career, adding that any failure on their part would definitely end in regrets.
Collaborating the gallant cop, an experienced physician of the State Hospital, Ilaro, Dr Onienumerated some of the hazards embedded in illegal businesses, given a stern warning to border residents, especially the youths to, in their own interests and society in general, desist from every means of livelihood that portents danger and untimely death.
Also, the Ogun State President of the Youth Council, Comr Abduljabar Ayelaagbe, having analysed the economic implication of smuggling in nation building, implored the people to engage in other businesses with less risks, stressing that, should government create enabling environment for legitimate businesses to thrive, Nigerian youths, especially those in the border lines, being hardworking people, will no doubt turn a new leaf.
Earlier, in her opening speech, the Convener, Mrs Suwebat Funmilola Odeyemi,admonished youths and their parents to rather choose a more secure type of business instead of risking their lives in smuggling activities.
Mrs Odeyemi, a Fellow of Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation, prayed government to make policy that will continue to improve on the social wellbeing of people staying and doing business in border towns.
Also, the Chairman of the Occasion, Dr Saheed Timehin, who stood in for the founder of the Foundation, His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan,preached peaceful coexistence among security operatives, border residents, and traditional rulers, urging parents and Customs personnel to play their roles in creating an enabling environment for peace to reign.
Fielding questions from journalists, the quartet of Comr M.A. Lawal (representative of Ilaro Chief Imam, Alhaji Adewunm), Pastor Alabi JP (CAN Chairman of Yewa South), ComrAdebayo Adeyinka (Coordinator NYCN, Yewa South), and Comr Saheed Idowu(President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth) were of the opinions that government should be proactive in enforcing law against smugglers when necessary, subsidizing the price of local rice to make it unavoidable for Nigerians, providing stable power supply in order to return skilled workers who indulge in smuggling to their workshop, and that it is imperative that all arms of government play their civic role in developing all border towns.
Among the Dignitaries at the event were eminent women of varied backgrounds, Mr Sola Abiala (PRO of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro), NSCDC Zonal O/C, Officers of the Man ‘O War, Members of Youth Council