The Anti-smuggling patrol team of the Niger/Kogi command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has again intercepted another Dangote truck with Registration Number XA 297 -NAK transporting seven hundred (700) bags of rice worth eleven million, nine hundred thousand naira (N 11,900,000) along Minna-Lambata-Suleja axis.
It will be recalled that few months ago; a similar seizure of Dangote truck with Reg. No. DAL 769 XA DSR-1B-019 conveying five hundred and twenty (520) bags of 50kg rice worth eight million, eight hundred and forty thousand naira (N8, 840,000) concealed with fifty (50) bags of Sugar worth six hundred and ninety seven thousand naira (N 697,000) was intercepted along Mokwa axis of the command.
The Customs Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Benjamin Lomba who disclosed this in a statement observed that some Nigerians remained unrepentant even as they continue to lose their goods adding not even the federal government’s visible efforts in transforming the agricultural sector; especially in the area of rice production had touched their consciences to avoid smuggling of rice.
Lomba quoted the Customs Area Controller of the command as saying that his officers and men were totally committed to tackling the menace of smuggling noting that the renewed strategy and proactive measures put in place in discovering new tactics of smugglers was yielding positive results.
“In his word, the command is set to key into federal government policies and the Next Level Agenda to encourage home-grown rice which will go a long way in creating employment opportunity for our teaming youth.
“To this end, the CAC appealed to the general public to always embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications. The eagle eye is all around Niger/Kogi command to uncover and suppress the smuggling to the barest minimum in the interest of the economic prosperity and national development”, the statement read.
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