Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made a significant breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to curb illegal importation, intercepting seven containers laden with prohibited items at Apapa port.
The intercepted containers included expired pharmaceuticals, cutlasses, frozen poultry products, and used clothing.
In a press statement released on Friday, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller for the Apapa Command, disclosed the details of the seizure. According to the statement, issued by the Command’s spokesperson Abubakar Usman, the seizure was made on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
The statement detailed the contents of the seized containers: “The command seized 2x40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlasses and machetes; 2x40ft carrying 4,129 packages of frozen hen; 1x40ft container carrying 368 jumbo bales of used second-hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceuticals.” The total duty paid value (DPV) of these items was calculated at N292,244,857.00.
Comptroller Olomu highlighted that the intercepted items were in violation of Schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and contravened Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He attributed the successful interception to a combination of intelligence gathering and diligent enforcement. “No consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination,” Olomu assured.
The Comptroller emphasized the Command’s commitment to sustaining and improving trade facilitation and revenue collection while strictly enforcing relevant laws against false declaration, concealment, under declaration, and under valuation.
Olomu also reiterated the Command’s dedication to collaborating with sister so as to work together positively in making the country better.
“We are also enforcing the requirements for sister regulatory agencies like National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in the case of food and drugs and strict implementation of the end user certificate rules for products that require it from relevant authorities like the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA),” he stated.
In closing, Comptroller Olomu expressed appreciation for the support and cooperation of government agencies and affirmed that the seized items would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and regulatory action.