Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Comptroller Mohammed Garba Uba, has advised Nigerians to invest in export business that will bring more foreign exchange and other economic benefits to the country, instead of engaging in illicit trade capable of hindering growth of local industries.
Comptroller Uba, whose Command has recorded massive seizures of prohibited items worth billions of naira in the last few months, explained that Nigerians investing in export business are going to benefit tremendously from incentives provided by the Federal Government to encourage export trade in the economy.
The Seme CAC further explained that export business does not attract payment of duty like importation, because government is encouraging people to invest more in the export sub-sector of the economy, to enhance greater productivity.
He said, “Nigerians should realise that exporting finished goods to other countries is a good business because they stand to benefit from government incentives”.
He pointed out, “Putting more resources in export business will benefit the economy and the citizens more than smuggling prohibited items to make Nigeria a dumping ground for substandard goods. We must look inward to see ways we can grow our economy, rather than sabotaging government’s efforts”.
In the same vein, senior officers at Seme Command have commended Comptroller Uba for bringing his experience and ingenuity to bear in re-invigorating the anti-smuggling operations in the Command, which is evidence in the number of seizures recorded within a short period of taking over the Command, as well as increase in revenue generation for government.
Oriental News Nigeria learnt that such pragmatic approach in their operational strategies paved the way for the recent seizures of over 43 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as Indian Hemp, intercepted by Seme Customs patrol team led by SC Isah Adamu, as well as 56 rolls of tramadol, seized by another patrol team from Seme Customs, coordinated by Salihu S K.
The items, which include 67 rolls by 10 packets, and 9 packs (225mg each) of tramadol, 56 rolls by 5 packets (200mg each) of tramadol and 43 parcels of Cannabis sativa, were handed over by the Deputy Comptroller, DC Enforcement of Seme Customs, DC Adahunse, to the officials of NDLEA in Lagos for further investigation.
More so, it could be recalled that only few weeks ago, the same Command recorded over N1billion revenue generation, even as it intercepted 11 trailers of foreign rice and other prohibited items smuggled into the country illegally.