'We Want to Enthrone Law and Order at Ports'
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is determined to ensure that there is law and order in the business of imports into the country, the Assistant Comptroller-General of the Service (Investigations), Alhaji Rabiu Adamu, has said.
Adamu who spoke to THISDAY on the increasing number of seizures being recorded by the Service in recent times, explained that this should be seen from the point of view that the new management of the Service has a strong will to check import malpractices.
According to him, the management of the Service has the mission of righting whatever has been wrong, adding that it will no longer be business as usual for any fraudulent importer or agent.
He advised importers to observe regulations guiding import, adding that those who go contrary to the rules will be made to face the wrath of the law.
Noting that so much seizures have been recorded in recent time by the Service, the Asst. Comptroller-General warned that it was better for fraudulent importers to change or continue to face the wrath of the law.
"Our men are in the field with instruction to fish out those who violate import regulations", he said, maintaining that the earlier fraudulent importers change the better.
At Murtala Mohammed Airport, the Customs Command recorded three major seizures of two-plane load of consignments and another 395 packages of textile materials, in addition to other regular seizures.
It was also gathered that 25 other seizures have been made between January and June this year at the airport.
At Tin Can Island port, the Service announced the seizure of 300 containers of scrap metals and teak wood which owners had planned to smuggle out of the country.
The two items are prohibited from export.
In other ports, there have been one seizure after another of goods which importation violated fiscal policies of the government.
Following this trend, the Service has vowed to fight all forms of economic sabotage perpetrated in the cause of either importation or exportation by unscrupulous businessmen or government agency personnel.
Comptroller-General of the Customs, Mr. Jacob Buba told newsmen recently that part of this war is a searchlight in the nation's air and seaports to ensure that smuggling activities are not perpetrated.
Buba said that the recent seizure of 300 containers of scrap metals which owners wanted to smuggle out of Nigeria underscored the determination of the Service to wage war against economic sabotage.
|
