Posted by By Moshood Adebayo, Abeokuta on
The Ogun Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has impounded 88 vehicles, among them the official car of a prominent chief in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state for alleged smuggling activities.
The Ogun Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has impounded 88 vehicles, among them the official car of a prominent chief in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state for alleged smuggling activities.
The Peugeot 505 station wagon car which loaded with contraband goods such as textiles, rice, shoes and others was among those seized and shown to journalists at Idiroko while highlighting the activities of the command.
The Controller who lamented the development stressed that his Command would not tolerate what he described as economic sabotage by some unpatrotic Nigerians.
"For us as an institution, we shall not allow those who are bent on sabotaging the activities of the Federal Government no matter how highly placed.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Ogun Command, Mr. Yinusa Saka, who brief the press also said that the Command had generated N422.4 million in the first quarter of the year.
According to Saka, the Command recorded a total seizure of 101 which consisted of textile materials, rice, scrap metal, shoes and cosmetics which are valued at about N39.5million.
Among the seizures were three luxurious buses, which were impounded for allegedly being loaded with smuggled and sub standard products.
The buses according to Saka, were intercepted along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway on April 12 following a tip off. No arrest was made over the seizures as the owners always fled at the sight of the customs officers.
The (CAC) who lamented dumping of inferior and prohibited goods and items in the country said the command was now more determined to safeguarding the fledging manufacturing industries by fighting smuggling headlong.
His words: "In accordance with our promise, we are giving them a good fight everywhere. When they carry prohibited items, we'll fight them; when they carry uncustomed items, we'll fight them; on the highway, in the bush and on the water. There is no hiding place for smugglers," said the area controller, who disclosed that no one was arrested in the seizures.
"With the support of our administration in Abuja and the commitment of my officers, we are forging ahead."
Saka who noted that smugglers had created untold hardship for the nation's domestic economy promised fight to finish with smugglers in the country.
"We are all crying over the rate of unemployment of youths in
Nigeria. How can we get the youths to be employed if smugglers keep bringing in goods from other countries? How will the factories run and make profits? Some of the materials they even smuggle can be produced here. It is unacceptable to us.
"Our resolve is to make sure that the fiscal policy of the government is given support to succeed."