The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone Lagos has said that it made a total of Fifty-Nine (59) seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Fifty-Six million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred Naira (N56, 479, 200. 00) between the period of 27th August to 11th September, 2015.
The new Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Abdul Amade who made this known in his maiden press briefing at the Unit’s Headquarters in Lagos on Monday further said that the unit had also apprehended eight (8) suspects in connection with the seizures.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Comptroller Amade recalled that Twelve (12) seizures of 50kg parboiled rice, totaling one thousand, eight hundred and eighty-seven (1,887) bags with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of twelve million, two hundred and sixty-five thousand, five hundred naira (N12, 265, 500.00) were made during the period under review while thirty-three (33) seizures of smuggled frozen poultry products totaling four thousand, eight hundred and fifty-four (4, 854) cartons with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of twenty-six million, two hundred and eleven thousand, six hundred naira (N26, 211, 600. 00) were also recorded.
The breakdown further showed that two (2) different seizures of vehicles totaling four (4) vehicles with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of nine million, nine hundred and ninety thousand (N9, 990, 000. 00) were also made together with twelve (12) different seizures of general goods namely; used tyres, textile materials, vegetable oil, used shoes, fruit juice, spaghetti and so with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of eight million, twelve thousand, one hundred naira (N8, 012, 100. 00) were also made within the said period.
Speaking on the milestone made within such a short period, the Controller who assumed duty at the Unit on the 26th day of August, 2015 said, “Generally speaking and going by the official record of the Unit, this report is clearly remarkable and a milestone. We will do everything possible with your (press) support to improve on this record against the background of the new order which calls for due diligence and renewed commitment”.
While recalling that smuggling like scavenging was a global phenomenon, he however pointed out that his preoccupation remained to degrade the activities of smugglers through aggressive patrol of all flanks and flashpoints.
“We will be very ruthless with these economic saboteurs because we have a responsibility to protect the nation’s economy in line with the expectations of the Federal Government of Nigeria. In view of this, I wish to advise would be smugglers to be prepared for the battle ahead because I will leave no stone unturned in my attempt to up the ante in our anti-smuggling mandate”, he said.
While observing that the FOU Zone A was statutorily charged with the responsibility of suppressing smuggling and facilitation of legitimate trade, he noted that beyond that, the unit was complimenting the efforts of the other customs commands in ensuring that there was total compliance with the fiscal policies of the Federal Government in terms of trade.
He emphasized that,” One cardinal aspect of my mission is to ensure that standards are not lowered in all areas of our operation and I have charged team leaders to justify the confidence which I reposed in them. I wish to assure you that with your support, I am going to surpass the anti-smuggling records of any predecessors and ensure that the Unit maintains its enviable status as the hub of anti-smuggling”.
The Customs Chief while pledging to facilitate trade for compliant traders however said that the Unit would welcome ideas, comments and opinion which coming in good faith would enable them advance the course of their assignment.
Send your news, press releases/articles to info@primetimereporters.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @reportersinfo and on Facebook at facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526.
