The Employers of labour in the shop and distribution segment of the nation’s economy are calling for the attention of the Federal Government to check the high rate of smuggling at the border.

CEOAFRICA news desk has gathered from the clamour of this group that the smuggling activities through the land borders are not only stifling manufacturing capacity, but also killing jobs locally.

The employers under the aegis of Shop and Distributive Trade Employers Association of Nigeria (S&DTEAN) has at its annual general meeting (AGM), in Lagos, Tuesday made this urgent call, noting that the level of insecurity in the country is really posing huge threat to business ventures.

The employers further noted that the situation not only deny the government billion of naira annually, but also work against employment generation as local firms were exposed to unhealthy competition leading to retrenchments in order for the firms to stay afloat.

“The Federal Government needed to empower the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) the more to enable it tackle the menace of smuggling, which poses serious threat to the growth of the economy”, Victor Eburajolo, the President of the Employers’ Association who is also group Deputy Managing Director of Kewalram Group has stated.