Lagos Assembly condemns continuous seizure of Badagry farm products by customs

Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday condemned the continuous seizure of farm products from Badagry border community by men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agents.

The House, however, passed a motion urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to organise a stakeholders’ meeting between the Customs and business owners of the confiscated goods.

It also asked the governor to direct the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Lola Akande, to organise the meeting between the Customs and business owners affected by the seizure.

The resolution of the House followed a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency II, Setonji David, over the confiscation of farm products by the Customs officers in the area.

David, in his motion, urged the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hammed Ali, to direct his men to stop further harassment of coconut sellers within Badagry and its environs.

He said the people were passing through hell with the continuous harassment of members of Lagos State Coconut Sellers and Traders Association by Customs officials in Badagry.

The lawmaker also said that the Comptroller-General should direct the Co-ordinator, Border Drill Operations Team, Zone A, Ikeja, to immediately release the seized two trucks and pickup load of 1,450 bags of locally-sourced coconut.

“On October 27, 2019, two trucks and a pick-up car load of 1,450 bags of locally-sourced coconut on transit were seized by men of Nigeria Customs Border Drill Operations, Zone A, Ikeja.

“The seizure took place at the Agbara Customs Point after it had left the popular Agbalata Central Coconut Market beside the Customs base in Badagry.”

Commenting, a lawmaker, representing Lagos Island Constituency I, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said the activities of Customs in Badagry were condemnable and over-zealousness on its part.

He said the action of the Service could discourage the local farmers from performing their legitimate work in the area.

Also, Olayiwola Olawale, representing Mushin Constituency II, who rose in support of the prime mover of the motion, said that it was worrisome because the seized products were not contraband.

On his part, Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu Constituency I, said the activities of the Customs were affecting the farmers in the area.

Agunbiade said that the way people were being harassed shows that something was wrong between the Customs and the business owners of farm products in the area.

In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, asked the Clerk of the Assembly, Azeez Sanni, to communicate the resolution of the House to the governor for further action on the issue.