Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service, generated a total of N1.8billion between January-December 2020, which has already been paid into the Federation Account of the government.
The unit statutorily compliments the Area Commands through interventions as part of its mandate; to patrol, intercept suspected smuggled items and access warehouses suspected to be used by smugglers and duty evaders.
The lost revenue was recovered by identifying shortfalls on duty payments and subsequent issuance of demand notices DN; sequel to interceptions and documentary checks.
Yahaya, in a statement disclosed that the unit seized contraband goods with a total duty paid value DPV of N20.89billion. They include 31,129 50kg bags of imported rice, 11,290 cartons of foreign poultry products, 3,562kg of Indian Hemp, 9,801 kegs of 25 litres of vegetable oil, 560 units of used vehicles and 24,612 pieces of used tyres.
The statement signed on his behalf by the Public Relations Officer, Theophilus Duniya reads in part: “As an anti-smuggling unit, we remain resolute to the course of protecting our national security and economy. In remaining uncompromising in the fight against smuggling, duty evasion and other offences that contravene different sections of the extant laws that we have seized these goods within the period under review.”
According to him, no consignment or goods on transit would be unjustifiably delayed for as long as there is compliance with the extant guidelines on the procedure for import and export clearance. “We are totally committed to the course of facilitating legitimate trade”.
He attributed this feat to credible information and intelligence gathering and therefore pleaded for timely and credible information from patriotic citizens that would assist the unit carry out its duties diligently.
“While we remain grateful to our esteemed critical stakeholders and patriotic citizens for their unflinching support, we also appeal to traditional rulers, teachers, religious leaders and parents to urge the youths not to allow themselves to be used by economic saboteurs.
“We shall remain determined in enforcing the Federal Government’s fiscal policies, extant regulations and guidelines on import/export; without fear or favour”, he also assured.