Seized goods

John Iwori

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)’s renewed efforts to check the activities of smugglers across the country have paid off, as no fewer than 530 cartons of poultry products have been intercepted.

The products, which are under the Import Prohibition List (IPL) of the Federal Government, were intercepted by men and officers of NCS, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, Comptroller Dan Ugo, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Lagos, said the interception of the prohibited items was the fruit of the unit renewed vigour to ensure zero tolerance for importation of poultry products.

The statement which was signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the unit, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, said the CAC made the disclosure at the destruction site located inside the Workshop Area of FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to it, the destruction was witnessed by representatives of the relevant regulatory agencies, including the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Ejesieme quoted Comptroller Ugo saying that the “unit will not renege in its statutory functions of suppressing smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade”.

The CAC noted that the latest marching order on zero tolerance to poultry products from Customs Headquarters, Abuja, triggered this latest onslaught and vowed that the unit would stop at nothing in ensuring a sustained war on the importers of these and other prohibited products.

He pointed out that the service was not unmindful of both the economic and health hazards associated with this unwholesome act, hence the urgent need to put modalities in place to check this illicit trade.
“I am pleased to note that the strategies put in place by the unit in this regard have started yielding results with these latest seizures”, he said.

The Customs Chief reiterated the determination of the service and the unit to always protect indigenous farmers whose contributions in terms of employment generation cannot be over-emphasised.

He also lauded the commitment of the Comptroller General of NCS, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi and his management team to the excellent discharge of the statutory roles and responsibilities of NCOS in all Customs formations across the country.
According to him, their support and encouragement have spurred men and officers of the unit to do more in the discharge of their duties since he was appointed.