Customs urges importers, agents to comply with trade rules

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area II Command Onne Port, has instituted a marching order to ensure that all importers and their agents are compelled to comply with the extant laws on international trade.

The Customs Area Controller, Aliyu Galadima Saidu, who disclosed this during the operational assessment, said the service is vigorously pursuing a zero tolerance for false declaration of goods or other deliberate infractions.

Saidu assured the readiness of the command to facilitate trade in line with global best practices to all honest and compliant importers and agents.

Comptroller Galadima said he is reviving proficiency in the area with regards to identifying and blocking all possible avenues of revenue leakages; enhancing capacity building in areas of modern customs operations; reinforcing the commitment of officers in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities and threatened to bring to book any erring officer found compromising.

He said the command generated about ₦81.2 billion into the Federal Government coffers in the third quarter of this year.He listed the seizures made within the period to include: 13,180 jerry cans of 25 litres of vegetable oil with DPV of ₦82.5 million; 8706 cartons of foreign soap worth ₦79.4 million; and 57,300 pieces of matches; 1,300 sacks of shovel; 100) cartons of hook knives, and 172 sacks of diggers, among others.

Other items seized include; a container-load of scrap metal of various sizes and types; 10,800 packs of corrugated aluminium roofing tiles/sheets and its accessories; 315 bales of textiles; 69 bags of imported rice; 329 bales of clothing; 160 logs of hardwood; 588 cartons of battery; 18 cartons of rolls PVC; 80 bundles of plain cartons and 10 keys of gum, among others.He stated that there would be continuous sensitization for stakeholders on the need to be compliant with extant laws governing Customs activities.