Customs FOU intercepts N20.8 billion goods in 2020
By Fredrick Wright
The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it intercepted goods with total duty paid value of N20.8 billion in 2020.
The Ag. Controller, DC Usman Yahaya, in a statement, said the Unit also raked in about N1.7 billion in the Federal Government coffers through its anti-smuggling activities last year.
He said the Unit remains resolute to the course of protecting the national security and economy.
He said “In the course of the Unit’s operations between January-December 2020, we had recovered the sum of N1.7 billion as revenue by identifying shortfalls on duty payments. The lost revenue was recovered through the issuance of demand notices; sequel to interceptions and documentary checks,”
Meanwhile, he disclosed that goods seized during the period includes: 31,129 of 50kg bags of foreign rice; 11,290 cartons of foreign poultry products; 3,562kg of Indian Hemp; 9,801 kegs of 25 liters each of vegetable oil; 560 units of used vehicles; 24,612 pieces of used tyres among others.
These items according to him, worth a total duty paid value of N20.8 billion.
Yahaya assured that no consignment or goods on transit would be unjustifiably delayed for as long as there is compliance with the extant guidelines on the procedure for import and export clearance.
“We are totally committed to the course of facilitating legitimate trade” he said.
Noting that the feat was as a result of credible information and intelligence gathering, he solicits for timely and credible information from patriotic citizens that would assist us carry out duties with diligence.
“While we remain grateful to our esteemed critical stakeholders and patriotic citizens for their unflinching support, we also appeal to traditional rulers, teachers, religious leaders and parents to urge the youths not to allow themselves to be used by economic saboteurs.
We shall remain determined at enforcing the Federal Government fiscal policies, extant regulations and guidelines on import/export; without fear or favor,” he stated.
