Kebbi Customs Generates ₦127M, Impounds Goods Worth ₦46M In November

The Kebbi Command of the Nigeria Customs Service generated a sum of One Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand, and Three Hundred and Ninety Naira (₦127,839,390.75) as revenue from mostly import of goods into the country through the Kamba border.

This was made known in a press release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Command Superintendent of Customs Nasiru Manga on Thursday the 8th of December 2022.

In the same vein, the Command made assorted seizures of 303 bales and 94 sacks of secondhand clothing, one unit of used BMW vehicle, 2,375 litres of PMS loaded in jerricans, and 58 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50KG each; among others. The duty paid value of the seized items stood at Forty-Six Million, Seven Hundred and Six Thousand, and Seven Hundred and Ninety-Five Naira (₦46,706,795.00).

In the statement, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Joseph Attah decried the increase in the smuggling of secondhand clothes and gave assurance that his officers are ever ready to scuttle the smugglers’ activities as the Command is well equipped with all the necessary logistics to strike at any time.

“From the record at our disposal, there is an increase in the smuggling of secondhand clothes in the last two months. You may recall that 139 bales were also seized in October. The smugglers cash in on the people’s demand for thick clothes such as cardigans in this harmattan season to smuggle these used clothes, not minding the health implication to the end user. We don’t know where the items came from or the last users of the clothes, their health status, and so on”, he stated.

According to the CAC, secondhand clothing falls under Schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff (CET) 2022-2026, importation of which is absolutely prohibited on health grounds. Its smuggling contravenes Section 46 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C. 45 LFN, 2004 (as amended).

“It is our responsibility to ensure that no item that could negatively affect our people is allowed entry. We are determined to do just that”, he said.

He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) and his management’s support through the provision of logistics as the Command is determined to deal decisively with unrepentant smugglers.

The CAC admonished the general public to avail the Command of useful information that can help in the continuous war against Economy Sabotage.