LAGOS: The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has re-affirmed its zero tolerance on smuggling activities, saying that such illegalities jeopardizes the nation’s economy.
The Acting Controller, FOU, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Deputy Comptroller Usman Turaki, who gave this warning during the Unit’s first Muster Parade at its Ikeja Headquarters, said the Unit will continuously decimate the activities of smugglers in the South-West region.
“Part of our strategy would be intensive patrol activities aimed at identifying some of the flashpoints through active collaboration with patriotic Nigerians and genuine informants. We are warning all those engaging in smuggling activities to look for genuine means of livelihood and desist from these illegalities that jeopardizes the nation’s economy, Turaki said.
“This Unit will continue to do everything possible to whittle down the nefarious activities of smugglers in the Zone.”
Meanwhile, reeling out the achievements of the Unit last year, Turaki commended his men and officers for their bravery, and as well thanked the Customs Management led by the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, for their support to achieve the feats.
He noted that the Unit made remarkable seizures of 58,611 cartons of poultry products; 104, bags of 50kg parboiled rice; 869 bags of 25kg parboiled rice; 445 different seizures of assorted vehicles totaling 579 units of fairly used vehicles, as well as 95 scraps.
“Between January to December 2014, the Unit recorded 2, 914 different seizures of assorted offending and prohibited goods valued at N1,446,383,130 with Payable Duty of N618,882,683 with a Duty Paid Value of N2,065,265,813,” he said.
