From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘B’, Kaduna, Dalha Wada Chedi has warned smugglers that the closure of all land borders with the Niger Republic is still in force.
The Customs boss maintained that the Unit would continue to ensure full compliance with the directives of the leadership and management of the NCS saddled with the duty of implementing the Federal Government directives.
The Comptroller while presenting the scorecard of the Unit between September and November 2023 told journalists in Kaduna that goods worth N2,8 billion Duty Paid Value (DPV) were impounded within the months under review.
“All land borders with the Niger Republic are in full force. l wish to remind all and sundry that our Unit will continue to ensure full compliance with the directives of the leadership and management of the Nigeria Customs Service saddled with the duty of implementing the Federal Government directives”, he said.
The senior Customs man told newsmen that the Unit recorded a total of 264 seizures of 21 different items since he assumed office a few months ago, “which also clearly speaks of our resolve as a Unit to continue to improve on our strategies and overall performances by building on the strong foundations we inherited”.
“The detentions and seizures made within the period under review are Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N2,888,460,294.68”, he said.
Items seized include 2,991 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 25 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 25kg, 292 foreign refined vegetable oils, 2131 cartons of spaghetti, macaroni & couscous, 98 pieces of foreign jack knives.
640 bales of foreign second-hand clothing, 147 sacks of foreign second-hand shoes, 360 cartons of frozen poultry products,120 cartons of foreign pomades, 34 cartons of foreign condensed milk, 1972 jerrycans of PMS (25 litres each) 20 bundles of foreign used tires, 16 cartons of foreign hookah (Tobacco).
Others are 337 cartons of foreign cigarettes 78 cartons of foreign medicaments, 870 pieces of foreign machetes, 212 cartons of foreign milky creamer, 76 Bags of ammonium sulphate, (25 each) 76 cartons of expired seasoning, and 10 bags of foreign flour.
He called on stakeholders especially traders and business people to eschew all activities that violate Customs extant laws so that “we can continue to respect ourselves and support the development and growth of our national objectives”.
He however warned that the Zone would leave no stone unturned to ensure that all acts of smuggling and anti-economic activities were fully challenged and the full force of the law brought to bear.