Don’t Increase Import Duties – NAGAFF Beg Customs

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Saturday called on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) not to contemplate any further hike in import duties as this would rather increase hardship on the people.

The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr Stanley Ezenga, made the plea in an interview with journalists in Lagos.

The Nigeria Customs Service, in a recent circular had directed the 43 percent hike in duties in line with government`s adoption of the flexible foreign exchange regime.

“Just recently, the Customs increased the import duties based on the argument that that they could no longer operate the fixed N197 to $1 following the government`s adoption of the new forex policy.

Customs Destroy Imported Frozen Poultry Worth N220m In Edo

 The Nigeria Customs Service in Edo State on Saturday destroyed imported frozen poultry product worth over N220m. Officials of the Federal Operation Unit Zone C intercepted the truck carrying the contraband product was intercepted along the Benin-Ore-Lagos expressway.

The Nigeria Customs Service will continue its fight on the ongoing crackdown on smugglers across the country, the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs Enforcement, Sola Oladesu, said while supervising the destruction exercise at the Customs House in Benin City.

He added that the Service is not only concerned with generating revenues for the Federal Government, it is also worried about the health implications of the activities of smugglers on Nigerians.

Shipping line slams N50m suit against Customs over employee’s detention

A Shipping firm, Afriglobe Shipping Lines Ltd, has filed a N50million suit against the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos over an alleged illegal detention of its Managing Director, Mr. Christian Ukata.The claimant’s counsel Charles Ugwuanyi who filed court papers on behalf of the firm, said that Ukata was wrongfully detained by NCS officials attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos sometime in November 2015 for being in possession of foreign exchange which he had voluntarily declared at the NCS desk.

According to the  firm  in November 2015, it was contracted by Aerodocs Inc. USA to clear its cargo at Chad and deliver same to Millicom, Chad at an agreed cost of $46,731 and  payment was subsequently made through Access Bank Plc.The firm averred that after  confirming the arrival of the cargo at Ndjamena Airport, that  it withdrew the sum of $42,200 from the amount paid into its Access Bank Plc account and detailed its Managing Director, Ukata to travel to Ndjamena vie Duala Airport for the purpose of clearing and delivery of the cargo.

Ukata according the firm’s court papers finally made arrangement to travel on November 15, 2016 with the view that the cargo would be cleared on November 16 so as to avoid incurring demurrage. But on getting to the Lagos Airport, the firm said  Ukata went through all the departure formalities including declaring the $42,200 that was with him before the two NCS officials, one Mrs Oshilaja and Mr K.S Ugboaja.

Yoruba, Hausa residents clash in Lagos: 3 killed, Customs officer injured

LAGOS—Three persons were shot dead yesterday, during a shootout between hoodlums and some officers attached to the Federal Operations Zone A, Ikeja, of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, at White Sand community in Ijora Badia area of Lagos State.

Three others, among who was a Customs officer, also sustained gunshot injuries.

Trouble started, Monday, following a clash between Hausa and Yoruba residents over accusation by the latter that the former had been terrorising the area.

A resident, Tajudeen Shamsudeen, explained that a boy, identified as Ojo, said to be on his way home, was allegedly stabbed to death by some Hausa boys.

Shamsudeen said: “For long, these Hausa boys have been attacking people here. They waylay people, dispose them of cash and belongings. Even rulers of both ethnic groups are aware of the issue.”

The attack on Ojo, according to him, sparked a riot during which dangerous weapons were freely used by both parties.

But for the timely arrival of policemen from Ijora Badia, the situation would have assumed a violent dimension. 10 persons were said to have been arrested in connection with the unrest.Demolition of shanties in the troubled community started yesterday morning.

While unconfirmed reports had it that it was on the order of the state government, the Hausa alleged that the demolition was carried out in their places of abode only.

While the demolition was ongoing, some Custom officers, who residents alleged were invited by the Seriki Hausa, stormed the community in three patrol vehicles at about 2.30p.m. They were alleged to have fired sporadically to scare off some hoodlums, who were roaming the area.

Customs impounds N400m hard drugs smuggled from Ghana

The Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, recently impounded 111 bags of hard drugs, cannabis sativa, smuggled into the country from Ghana with a market value of over N400 million.
The Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Command, Comptroller Umar Yusuf, who made this known in Lagos, revealed that 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggling.
He said: “During our investigations, we discovered that these drugs came from Ghana. Also, they have less smoke and are stronger than the type you see in Nigeria. We have a bilateral relation with Ghana, so it is imperative for us to meet with their government over this sensitive issue of national concern.
“The arrest was made possible by our officials working in the Customs Intelligence Unit, CIU. They operate at strategic areas of the marine where they send signals to other patrol units.”