Smuggling detrimental to Nigeria’s economy –Customs controller

The Customs Area Comptroller, Oyo/Osun Command, Comptroller E. A. Udo-Aka, has sounded a note of warning to those engaged in smuggling business to stop the act forthwith as their activity is detrimental to the nation’s economy and the lives of the masses.

He stated this in Ibadan, during a press briefing on the activities of his Command and the seizure of some illegal items ranging from cars, clothes, second-hand tyres and rims and edible items whose overall duty paid value is N28.9million twenty-eight million.

Udo-Aka while lamenting the unrepentant stance of smugglers who he said continue in the business even in the face of loses was peeved at some elders in the community who come to plead on their behalf.

He added that the grace period given by Customs for payment of duties for vehicles smuggled has expired on the May 19, 2017 and that unless genuine documents are presented, the goods are likely to be seized.

“It is worrisome to note that some unpatriotic Nigerians still remain unrepentant despite the stern warning against smuggling, and even as they continue to lose. It is also disheartening to discover that some members of the public, especially the elders, do come to plead for the release of impounded contraband goods.

“While we will not tolerate smuggling either from the public or from the officers who might went to connive with the smugglers, I want to make it crystal clear to the entire public that the period of 30days of grace that was given for the public to pay duties for vehicles that were smuggled has expired.

“The grace period ended on the 19th of May, 2017. We also want to inform the public that anybody whose good have been arrested by the Customs should come forth-with the genuine documents and claim ownership within thirty days after which the good s are liable for seizure.”

Udo-Aka further said that the policy of the federal government now does not allow the importation of vehicles and rice through the land borders again and it stifles the growth of the Nigerian economy.

“At this juncture, it is imperative to restate that based on the current fiscal policy of the federal government, no vehicle and rice is to be imported into Nigeria through the land borders again. There is no gainsaying that rice smuggling stifles domestic rice production in the country, in addition, it is injurious to the health of our people and to this economy.”

He then warned that,”all those who are still trapped in the illicit business of smuggling, to change from this obnoxious business which is detrimental to the nation’s economy and to the lives of our people.”