By Olusegun Folarin
The Nigeria Customs Service says efforts are ongoing to tackle identified challenges hindering the flow of business across the country’s land borders as Ogun Area One Command records 380 million Naira worth of seizures within 23 days.
The new Customs Area Controller, for the Command, Mr James Ojo stated this in Abeokuta, while giving account of his achievements since assumption of office about three weeks ago.
He also announced that the command generated more than 14 million Naira as revenue through baggage assessment and auction sales of intercepted petroleum products.
Mr Ojo lamented that the persistent smuggling of contraband items would continue to hamper the nation’s economic growth and promised that those carrying out legitimate trades would be given the necessary support to thrive.
While warning those he described as economic saboteurs to desist from smuggling and embrace legitimate cross-border transactions, the Customs Area Controller said government’s policy on the prohibition of rice importation through land borders would help to boost local production and self-sufficiency.
He restated the dangers of allowing cannabis sativa and foreign-used pneumatic tyres into the Nigerian markets also announced that a total number of 103 seizure were made during the period under review.
The items listed by Mr Ojo included 1,309 parcels of cannabis sativa, 1,596 pieces of foreign used pneumatic tyres; 2,922 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each and 32 bales of used clothes.
Other intercepted contraband items on the list were 1,643 Cartons of frozen poultry products, and 22,600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
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