Outrageous influx of used items crippling our economy – Customs CG
The Comptroller General of Customs Service (CGC), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) has lamented the outrageous influx of used items as well as other prohibited goods into the country, which he said is crippling the nation’s economy.
Ali who stated this while briefing journalists in Lagos on the various seizures made by officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja and the CGC Compliance Team in the last one month on Tuesday, maintained that the nation has become a haven for used items due to the continuous patronage by Nigerians.
Stating the dangers of the act, the Customs boss explained that aside from the economical implication of such unwholesome activities, especially when the nation is trying to grow her economy and be less dependent on foreign products, the health hazards of using second hand items such as cloths and some of the prohibited items are unimaginable.
He said, “The idea behind banning used cloths or other used items is not just for the economic reasons, but also for health reasons but we still do not see it that way. We are the only ones who allow these things into our country. We are the only dumping ground for used items -be it used vehicles, used clothing, used engines, used tyres and the others all find their way to Nigeria.
“Go to other countries, they don’t allow such, we are the haven of used items and it is because there is a market for it. The truth is that if we don’t buy such goods, the importers won’t bring them in. when we buy such goods, we encourage them to continue. Most Nigerians do not even know the hazards such things poses, not just the economic hazards but also the health hazards.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, he stated that 17 suspects were arrested while 37exotic vehicles -8 Lexus Jeep LX 570 (2017 model), 12 Land Cruiser Jeep ( 2017 model), 17 Toyota Hilux ( 2016 -2009 models )- with a duty paid value of N1,374,122,679.00 smuggled through unapproved routes were intercepted in the period under review.
Speaking further on the seizures, Ali said, bales of used cloths, 130 parcels of Indian Hemp weighing 116kg each and another 45 sacks of 10kg per sack were also intercepted by men of the NCS. Several bags of rice were seized as well as six containers carrying items ranging from used tyres, iron folding chairs without the sittings foams, packages of wooden cabinets in different sizes, biscuits, chocolates and other general merchandise.
Hammering on the need to deal with the issue of false declaration, Ali revealed that false declaration has also become alarming as importers and agents now connive to customs officials to defraud the nation for reason best known to them.
He stated that out of every one hundred container brought into the country; hardly would one find ten that was not falsely declared. Giving more insight into the situation, Ali said. “Out of a hundred containers, hardly will you find ten that Nigerians will declare exactly what is in the container. What they do always is to give you false declaration. That is for those who cannot get it out without paying anything.
This is all in a bid to pay the lowest duty. Sometimes, importers will give the correct value and even the correct duty to customs agents. But our agents will go and duplicate the papers, change it and give it another consignment and then connive with our own officers because it takes two to tangle.”
On the role played by some customs personnel to make this evil trend thrive, the CGC said, “We are the gatekeepers, so for any container that gets out of the port as false declaration, they must have connived with customs officers.
It is therefore our job as customs officers to cleanse our system.
Calling for all to be involved in making the nation better and end smuggling, Ali said, “we must join this
crusade, it is a war that cannot be won by the Nigerian customs alone. It is a war that must be fought by every Nigerian, every patriotic Nigerian and that is the only way we can curb this menace and be able to get money and also instill the fiscal discipline that is required. What we need in this country is fiscal discipline, we do not have it. People do not have conscience, so how can we grow. Yes we want to be great and of course we are great because we are the largest in terms of number, but in terms of performance, where are we? Look at all the indices by World Bank, by IMF, we are always ranked lowest, why because of our own attitude.
“We do not love or believe in Nigeria because if we do, these importations are not done by persons from other countries, and even if it is done, it is in collaboration with Nigerians. For anyone outside to perpetrate such act, there are ten Nigerians supporting him and that is why he succeeds. You cannot go their own country and do this. Certainly you will be afraid. But in Nigeria, anybody can come and lie to us and cheat this great nation. Cheat 180 million people.”
He also emphasized that the ban on importation or rice and vehicles through the land borders was still very much effective. He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the federal government policies banning on the importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders are still in force. Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in its determination to enforce these policies.”
Joy Anyim
