2017 Q1: Nigeria Customs Service, FOU Zone ‘A’ Rakes in N2.050bn

By Eric Elezuo

Having intensified its anti-smuggling operations, The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos, in the first quarter of 2017, intercepted various contraband and other goods on detention with a duty paid value (DPV) of One Billion, Forty Five Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Naira only (N1,045,412,950)

In a statement released by the Unit’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jery Atta, it was noted that similarly, the unit through its professional interventions, “recovered One Billion, Five Million, Five Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, One Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira, Ninety Kobo only (N1,005,517,187.90) from duty payments and demand notices on general goods that attempted to beat the system from seaports, airport and border stations in the guise of false declaration, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the Federal Government of Nigeria, making a cumulative of  Two Billion, Fifty Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand,  One Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Ninety  Kobo  only (N2,050,930,137.90)”

The Unit revealed that in the first quarter of 2017, 293, different seizures were recorded comprising foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, arms, fake pharmaceutical/medicaments and various general merchandise.

See breakdown below:

S/NO.	GENERAL GOODS	QUANTITY	DPV
1.	FOREIGN PARBOILED RICE	22,489 BAGS OF 50KG,	146,190,850
2.	FROZEN POULTRY PRODUCT	7376 CTNS	39,830,400
3.	ARMS AND AMMUNITION	661 PCS OF PUMP ACTION RIFLES	317,280,000
4.	VEGETABLE OIL	325 J/CANS 165 CTNS	3,111,750
5.	TIMBER & PARTS THEREOF	6 CONTAINERS 121 LOGS	38,178,000
6.	VEHICLES	7 UNITS	10,125,000
7.	RETHREADED AND USED PNEUMATIC TYRES	2157 NEW 660 USED	49,275,000
8.	ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS PARTS THEREOF	891	28,470,000
9.	PHARMACEUTICAL/MEDICAMENTS	5985 CTNS VARIOUS BRANDS	258,678,000
10.	GENERAL MERCHANDISE a)    New & Used Textile materials b)   New & used Foot wears c)   Mosquito insecticide d)   Bonita spaghetti e)    Soap/detergents/ toiletriesvarious f)    Used Tyres etc. g)    Compressors h)   Narcotics, hard drugs.		154,273,950
	TOTAL		1,045,412,950

The Controller, Federal Operations Unit ‘A’, Comptroller Haruna Mamudu, in his remarks, commended the officers and men of the Unit for the great feat despite the economic recession. He wondered why some elements would invest their money in illegal business, knowing very well that the law would catch up with them.

While appealing to all well meaning Nigerians to join the Service in the fight against smuggling, which has wrecked havoc to the nation’s economy, the Comptroller charged all officers and men of the Unit to be professional and diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities, most especially in the area of anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue linkages are blocked.