Customs intercepts tons of foreign parboiled rice within 36 days
The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command, says it has in the past 36 days intercepted 12 trailer loads of 50kg foreign parboiled rice which is the equivalent of 365.55 metric tons.
The Area Comptroller, Dera Nnadi disclosed this during a press briefing in Abeokuta on Thursday, while giving the last quarter scorecard of the command from 18th October to 24th November, 2021.
“The above emphasis is deliberate to show that this quantity of rice, if allowed into the Nigerian market will affect the federal government’s rice policy negatively.
“Recall that a rice cooperative farm in Ogun State (specifically at Imeko Afon) with the active support of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Government and World Bank just last week harvested 2600 metric tons of paddy rice.
“This is a major win for the Command as we celebrate these farmers who are testimonies and justification of the Service anti-smuggling effort in support of local rice productions in the country” the CAC stated.
He also revealed other seizures recorded during the same period to include:
12 KEGS OF 25 LITERS VEGETABLE OIL SIZE,THAT IS 300 LITRES
20 UNITS OF USED VEHICLES (MEANS OF CONVEYANCE)
2 UNITS OF USED MOTORCYCLE (MEANS OF CONVEYANCE)
4 BALES OF 25KG USED CLOTHINGS
26 SACKS OF USED SHOES
124 SACKS OF CANNABIS SATIVA [
2 BUNDLES 4 PIECES OF USED TYRES WITH RIMS
831 KEGS OF PMS FUEL 25 LITRES
810 CARTONS OF FROZEN POULTRY PRODUCTS
4 SACKS OF USED TOYS
The Area Commander said that the cumulative duty paid value (DPV) for all the above seizures amounted to One Hundred and Seventy-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty-Seven Naira and Zero Kobo (N172,999,387.00).
He further said that the the Command generated a total revenue of N2,437,050.00 during the period under review, which were mainly proceeds of auction sales of seized petroleum products (PMS) and metal scraps.
“It should be noted that Federal Government of Nigeria’s directive on border closure is still subsisting, hence, there is no revenue generated from import activities,” he said.
The new CAC expressed gratitude to the CGC, Col Ibrahim Hameed Ali, (rtd) and his Management Team for the opportunity to serve as the Customs Area Controller of Ogun 1 Area Command and also the deployment of new operational vehicles to the Command.
