Car dealers from the Southwest States, on Monday, protested in Akure, Ondo State, against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) operatives alleged incessant extortion, harassment, and illegal duty fees.

The dealers, under the umbrella of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON) stormed the Alagbaka office of the NCS, with placards bearing different inscriptions.

Some of the inscriptions read, “We pay duty, stop the harassment,” “Customs – Uphold the Law, Not Extortion,” and “Our demands are legitimate, do not destroy our business.”

The protesters also blocked the entrance of the customs office, chanting solidarity songs.

They submitted a petition seeking President Bola Tinubu’s urgent intervention over what they described as the unwholesome activities of customs officers at checkpoints

The dealers alleged that despite paying official duties in Lagos, their vehicles were often intercepted on highways, subjected to fresh checks, and slammed with arbitrary, inflated fees.

They accused customs officers of demanding “illegal payments” ranging from N200,000 to N1 million, while sometimes impounding vehicles cleared at Apapa Port under the excuse of “watch-lists” or other internal designations.

Speaking on behalf of the protesting car dealers, the National Vice President of AMDON, Alhaji Ibrahim Bankole Adeniyi, lamented over what he described as the continued embarrassment and extortion of members by customs officials.

Adeniyi, who doubles as the chairman of the association in Ekiti State, alleged that the customs always impound vehicles belonging to their members anytime they transit through their check points.

He pleaded with President Tinubu to urgently intervene over the matter by calling the Nigeria Customs Service in the Southwest states to order before things get out of hands.

“We are here to show our displeasure in the manner at which customs officials always embarrassed our members (car dealers) on the road. The way they are extorting us is too much.

“They always seized and impounded our vehicles after undergoing and paying all the necessary fees at the Apapa port. By the time we get to their check point, it is always another story entirely. They will begin to engage in illegal extortion and billing us with exorbitant fees.

“So, we have decided to storm their office with our members because when you get to Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun – it is all about illegal money. That’s why we are telling the Customs Service that enough is enough.

“And we mobilised down here to fight for our rights. We want President Bola Tinubu to intervene and call them to order now. We met with the senior officers, and they promised to take action and ensure that all their illegal fees stopped. We have all given them an ultimatum,” he said.

Also, the Ondo State Chairman of AMDON, Jenyo Ogunlade decried that many dealers had lost millions of naira to the illegal practices of customs officers.

“We pay duty at Apapa and clear our vehicles, yet customs impound them again and extort us heavily. This is killing our business. We won’t relent until it stops,” Ogunlade declared.

Responding to the protesters, the Comptroller of Customs for Ondo/Ekiti Command, Queen Obazee, assured that their grievances would be addressed.

She, however, maintained that officers were performing their duties within the law while cautioning dealers to also comply with regulations.

Mrs. Obazee further ordered the release of all seized vehicles belonging to AMDON members but warned that the NCS would continue to clamp down on defaulters. (Daily Trust)