From Uche Usim, Abuja

Related News

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri Wednesday disclosed it recorded various seizures worth over N200 million.
The Comptroller of the Unit, Amajam Bukar, who made this known at a press briefing on the successes of anti-smuggling operations in the Zone, said his jurisdiction made seizures of over 8295 used tyres worth N66,360,000 in duty paid value. The seizures were made from January 2016 to July 2017.
According to him, most of the used tyres were carefully concealed to beat security but were eventually detected and seized by Customs operatives.
He added that used tyres put motorists in grave danger and therefore the Unit in carrying out its functions will continue to ensure that irresponsible traders bent on putting Nigerian lives at risk will not succeed.
Amajam also said the unit recorded 18 seizures with duty paid value of N141,229,000, while underpayments stood at N24,575,796.
The seizures made include cartons of vegetable oil, used tyres and bags of rice. Others are a luxury bus intercepted with 69 bags of rice and 40 bales of second hand clothing. Another Sino truck laden with 460 bags of rice with duty paid value of N11,776,000, while a Toyota Previa car was equally intercepted with 59 bags of rice with duty paid value of N944,000.
The unit also displayed a 1×20 foot container used to convey motor parts but contained cartons of foreign soap.
The Controller explained that foreign soaps were prohibited for trading in Nigeria.
He explained that import prohibitions have been put in place to protect the local manufacturing industry and thus called on the populace to make wide consultations before any importation.
Also on display were three exotic cars including a Bently GT Coupe 2014 model with duty paid value of over N56 million naira, Mercede s Benz GLK 2011 model with duty paid value of N9,235,963 and another Mercedes Benz GLK 2008 model with duty paid value of N7,715,838 that were currently under detention. Amajam disclosed that preliminary investigation reveal that the three cars do not have evidence of duty payment. He added that the nature of the cars show that it was bought by a wealthy and influential person.
He thus appealed to wealthy Nigerians to be patriotic and pay appropriate duties and taxes.
He stressed that it was the civic duty of every Nigerian to forward any useful information to Customs to check the illegal activities of smugglers and protect the citizens.
He commended patriotic Nigerians that have volunteered information that has been invaluable to the war against smuggling.
On the directive from Customs headquarters on the dismantling of illegal checkpoints, Amajam stated that the directive does not in any way hamper operatives in the discharge of their duties.