Metro
34 containers of rice seized by Customs in Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it seized 34 containers of rice smuggled through the Tin Can Island port in Lagos, some of which have expired.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali (retd), disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to Ali, one of the rice containers was concealed by its importers as spare parts, while 11 containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products, two containers of used tyres, one container of used clothing and four containers of refined vegetable oil in retail packs were also seized.
The Customs CG put the duty paid value of the seized goods at N2.7bn, adding that the recent closure of the land borders prompted importers of banned items to route them through the seaports.
He said: “Specifically, we are aware that the partial closure of the land borders has resulted in the diversion of some cargoes back to our seaports.
“While we welcome this development, which no doubt will boost revenue, improve our trade facts and figures and sustain our diversification efforts, we have also recorded a number of seizures of unwholesome products, which otherwise would have been smuggled through the borders.
Read also: Bizarre details of how students of Engravers College regained freedom after 23 days
“Realising that there may be possible backlash to the closure of the land borders, I directed all seaports and airports to beef up surveillance and intercept any illicit and prohibited consignments for which attempts for their smuggling may be made through these entry points.
“This decision was made considering that those consignments may have been paid for and the importers will devise entry means to ensure they are delivered to their warehouses in Nigeria.”
According to Ali, the Central Bank of Nigeria had not issued Form M since 2015 for the importation of rice through the seaports; therefore, any foreign rice in the country was smuggled.
The Customs CG said he had directed a full investigation to bring all those connected with the importation to justice.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...