The Zone A of the Federal Operations Unit, Nigeria Customs Service has revealed that it made humongous haul of various items in the course of its operational activities between the month of January and December 2020. The Information reaching us indicates that various goods were intercepted by the men of the Service over the period in consideration. The goods seized included 31,129 of 50kg bags of foreign rice, 11,290 cartons of foreign poultry products, 3,562kg of Indian Hemp, 9,801 kegs of 25 liters each of vegetable oil, 560 units of used vehicles, 24,612 pieces of used tyres etc, all worth a total duty paid value of Twenty Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety-seven Million,
Five Hundred and Fifty-three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Naira, Eight kobo (N20,897,553,880.08)
The Ag. Controller, DC Usman B. Yahaya categorically stated that, no consignment of goods in transit is or would be unjustifiably delayed for as long as there is compliance with the extant guidelines on the procedure for import and export clearance. He said “We are totally committed to the course of facilitating legitimate trade”.
DC Yahaya also indicated that “In the course of the Unit’s operations over the period “we had recovered the sum of One Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-two Million, Ninety-four thousand, thirty-seven Naira, Ninety-four Kobo (N1,752,094,037.94) as revenue by identifying shortfalls on duty payments”. The lost revenue was recovered through the issuance of demand notices; sequel to interceptions and documentary checks.
He went further by saying “As an anti-smuggling unit, we remain resolute to the course of protecting our national security and economy and we are also remaining uncompromising in the fight against smuggling, duty evasion and other offences that contravene different sections of
the extant laws”.
DC Yahaya also expressed his gratitude to the critical stakeholders who contribute in large measures in making the unit’s job easier and also pleaded with every Nigerian not be economic saboteur but abide by the provisions of the law.