‘It Is Still Business As Usual For Smugglers Of Contraband Poultry Foods

Despite the ban placed by government on importation of poultry products into the country and the recent warning by the National Agency for Food And Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) against the consumption of frozen chicken, the activities of smugglers of the products had continued unabated.

But the smugglers would have none of this ban neither has the warning gone well with them. Instead, their activities have persisted.

Meanwhile, the National President of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ayoola Oduntan recently put the total amount spent on smuggled frozen chicken into the country last year at N660 billion. He disclosed that Nigeria still imports at least 1.2 million metric tons (MT) of frozen chicken into the country, despite the ban placed by government.

If the figure is anything to go by, it implies that Nigeria imported N55 billion worth of chicken monthly and N13.75 billion weekly throughout last year.

Several questions as to how those banned products found their way into Nigerian markets have remained unanswered.

The feeling in certain quarters is that the smugglers are perhaps in collaboration with some security agents to smuggle chicken and some other poultry products into the country.

Investigation by The Guardian reveals that some cars were re-designed by Nigerian smugglers in order to suit the purpose of smuggling across the country boarders. Such cars which back shock absorbers have been replaced with higher spring absorbers come into Lagos heavily loaded with contraband goods through Badagry border almost unhindered.

At Isuti area of Igando in Alimosho Local council of Lagos, it was gathered that smugglers bring in the products like chicken, turkey, vegetable oil and even rice at the early hour of the day without any serious interception by security agents.

These smugglers make use of Canoe to transport the goods from Badagry axis; collect them with vehicles from Totowu River and then drive in through Isuti, road of Igando into other parts of Lagos.

At several occasions, the smugglers’ vehicle comes in with a driver and another individual who sits on top of the vehicle’s bonnet to pave way. Interestingly, some residents of Igando-Egan described such individual who sits on the car ‘s bonnet as someone who must be fetish in nature. “They have some metaphysical power”, some argued. And those who could stand the heat from customs officers on the Badagry stretch bring it in through Iyana-Oba area of Lagos.

At a particular sport along Ikotun Idimu road, freshly smuggled chicken and turkey are been sold to consumers in carton on daily basis. Sometimes, customers wait ahead of the arrival of the products.

One of the drivers who simply identified himself as Murphy, disclosed that he usually pay his way through into Lagos and that’s why he hardly encounter trouble in his smuggling business.
Asked if he was going to the leave the business soon, he said, he has not seen any other profitable business that he can do rather than smuggling.

But many of your people died while exchanging fire with Customs officers, he fired back, those who died are those who want to eat alone. “I have been doing this business since 5 years ago and I have never been caught because I settle a lot”.

Is he not aware of the fact that smugglers would no longer have market for chicken due to the alarm raised by NAFDAC, the young man who should be in his early 30’s giggled, insisting that Nigerians can never stopped eating smuggled frozen chicken irrespective of any awareness against it. How many Nigerians can afford buying a live chicken and how many poultry are in Nigeria, Murphy asked.

Speaking with a woman who also involves in smuggling business, popularly known as ‘Fayawo or Alajapa’ in this South-west zone, it was gathered that smuggling of banned poultry products into the country may never stop unless government take some decisive decisions against it.

Mama Doyin as popularly known told The Guardian that she might not leave the business in any time soon. She said: “I am a widow and this is all I do to sustain my family”. She said the business she knows better is the Fayawo (smuggling) and the thought of quitting the shady business has never occurred to her. She readily concluded that Nigerians couldn’t even survive without the business of smuggling because Nigeria is either under producing them or not producing some of these products at all.

Has she not been arrested before? She replied, “ I have been arrested severally and my goods were seized, but I cannot leave the business because that is what I know better”. In fact, this seizure of goods was what wrecked my finances. Two other smugglers approached for comment, declined and threatened to unleash terror on the reporter.