NIMASA CORPORATE STRIP
SEIZURES GALORE @ FOU ‘A’; AS OLADEJI INTERCEPTS GOODS WORTH N5.2 BILLION IN 6 WEEKS
At least seizures worth more than N5.2 billion were made by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) zone A in the last six weeks.
Controller of the Unit, Compt IK Oladeji disclosed to newsmen today in Lagos.
He said donkey skin worth more than N4 billion made the list of seizures, including foreign and local cannabis sativa. 21 exotic cars were also intercepted.
Their intelligence network has been of immense contribution to our success as well as the collaborative contributions of relevant security Agencies which has recorded remarkable success in our anti-smuggling campaign.
During the period under review, men of the FOU ‘C’ exhibited strict professional conduct and relentless effort in enforcing the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 as it relates to Import, Export, Revenue, Security of lives and properties across the Borders of the South Western States.
It is worthy of note to mention items arrested for investigation between 25th Dec – 4th Feb 2025 as follows: A very peculiar arrest is the 1x40ft Container loaded with 4,410 of Dry Donkey Skin with a Street Value of Four Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Four Naira, Sixty Four Kobo ₦4,235,790,464.64I want to commend the Officer in charge of the Export Team for exhibiting a high level of diligence and integrity by rejecting every attempt made by faceless individuals to compromise the process.
It is no gain saying that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) prohibits Trade in vulnerable species. With the slaughtering of over Four Thousand Donkeys and attempt to smuggle them out of the Country, CITES has been violated and they shall investigate thoroughly to unmask the unscrupulous individuals behind this act.
He stressed that the arrested Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,378kg will be handed over to the relevant Government Agency for further investigation. Also in 2016, as part of the Federal Government fiscal policy, Foreign parboiled rice was prohibited from being Imported through Land Border but permitted to be imported only through the Seaport with payment of requisite revenue.
However, he said, for selfish gains, some unpatriotic individuals have continue to defy this restrictions which negatively impact National Economy and distort National Trade Data.
It is also imperative to inform the public that Foreign frozen poultry products are prohibited from Import by Trade under the ECOWAS Common External Tarrif particularly schedule III of the CET.Six (6) Defendants were arrested in connection with various prohibited goods and Cannabis Sativa. Some of them have been granted administrative bail while investigation is on-going on these cases.
Revenue Generation: Through regular Documentation check and profiling of suspected irregular Import document the sum of ₦60,901,598.32 Sixty Million, Nine Hundred and One Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety Eight Naira, Thirty Two Kobo has been collected as Revenue through Issuance of Demand Notices.
He said their Strategy To Tame Smuggling In 2025, also, their resolve and commitment to tame smuggling and illegal Cross border movement of goods in 2025 has informed the adoption of measures and strategies which include the following:
Improvement on existing robust relationship with leaders of Border Communities and Traditional rulers. Creation of awareness and Education of the public on dangers of smuggling to the Economy. Strict Enforcement of the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 and prosecution of offenders to show deterrence.
The Controller therefore use this opportunity to advice and also warn unscrupulous and unpatriotic individuals to have a change of heart by engaging in legitimate Trades in 2025 as our on-going “Swift Sting Operation” will not spare all acts of Economic Sabotage in the New Year.
According to him, ‘as for legitimate Importers, Traders and Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), he said their doors are open for consultation and collaboration as they intend to re-engineer their Trade facilitation systems in line with the Federal Government Policy on Ease of Doing Business’.
He thanked the able Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR dsm fnipr psc (+), and his Management for their unending and unflinching support without which they would not have this feat.