In compliance with the Federal Government directives aimed at ensuring food security in the country, Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has toughened vigilance at its borders to checkmate any attempt to smuggle out food produce even as the Command intercepted one trailer fully loaded with bags of grains.
In a statement, the command said an outbound DAF truck with Reg. No. JEG 27 XB was intercepted by its Rapid Response Team along Maidahini-Bunza Road on 15th May, 2022. According to the statement, physical examination of the truck revealed that it contained 800bags of white sorghum valued at about six N6.23million
Briefing news men on the Command activities in the last two weeks in Birnin Kebbi, on Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Joseph Attah said the previous week, officers of the Command intercepted the same white sorghum conveyed in a trailer along Kamba Road.
According to him, when the driver failed to produce export documents; the truck was detained in the Command’s Headquarters and later released on compassionate ground with the owner promising to return the product to their warehouse in Kaduna for domestic consumption.
“But upon the release of the truck, they went and transferred the content into the intercepted DAF truck thinking that was enough disguise to smuggle it out, unknown to them that an officer had been detailed to monitor their movement.” Attah explained.
He noted that the ongoing crisis between countries known for grain production has created an uncertainty in the global grains market, “As countries look elsewhere for these essential products, it is imperative to secure our locally produced grains so as to avoid being plunged into food crisis.
“In addition to putting our officers and men on high alert, we have undertaken stakeholders’ engagements across all the Command’s borders, enlightening border communities on the implication of exporting farm produce, especially grains.” He disclosed.
Reeling out the Command’s achievements in the span of two weeks from 1st to 15th May, 2022, Attah said the Command has seized assorted items worth over twenty seven million naira.
In his words: “In the last two weeks under review, we have seized two hundred and nine (209) jerricans (5,225 Liters) of PMS, eighteen jerricans (450 litres) of AGO, one DAF Truck used as means of conveyance, thirty nine (39) bags of foreign parboiled rice, five cartons of medicaments and ten (10) bales of second hand clothing, among others.
“The Duty Paid Value of all the items in the period under review is twenty seven million, six hundred and seventy seven thousand and six hundred and fifty nine naira (27,677,659). The amount generated as fees from the auction sales of the PMS and AGO has been remitted to the Federal Government.”
On the recent reopening of Kamba Border and reactivation of the Command’s ICT center, Comptroller Attah said the Command is ready to facilitate legitimate trade for all stakeholders who choose to transact their business through the Command, stressing that all relevant units at the border have agreed to jointly examine consignements to remove unnecessary delays.
“What we only ask for is compliance vis-a-vis proper documentation, truthful declaration and appropriate payment of duty”, he said.
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