The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has impounded seven containers of cutlasses and machetes, frozen poultry products and expired pharmaceuticals worth N292.2 million.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures to newsmen on Friday, 19 July 2024, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) Comptroller Babatunde Olomu stated that the items fall short of the import prohibition guidelines.
He said, “On Thursday, 17 July 2024, the command seized 2x40ft containers carrying 12,000 pieces of cutlass and machete; 2x40ft carrying 4,129 packages of frozen poultry product; 1x40ft container carrying 368 jumbo bales of used second-hand clothing; and 1x40ft container of expired pharmaceuticals. The duty paid value (DPV) of these seized items stood at two hundred and ninety-two million, two hundred and forty-four thousand, eight hundred and fifty-seven naira (292,244,857.00).
“It is pertinent to note that this type of importation is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and violates section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”
Comptroller Olomu disclosed that the seizures were made following a combination of intelligence and diligent enforcement in ensuring that no consignment exits Apapa Port or any terminal under the command without undergoing proper examination.
“As a working principle, I have reiterated that this command will continually sustain and improve on trade facilitation and maximum revenue collection without compromising the enforcement of our extant laws as they pertain to a false declaration, concealment, under declaration and undervaluation,” Olomu said.
Speaking on the importation of cutlasses and machetes, the CAC clarified that such items require an end-user certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“Importations like this require an end-user certificate issued from the office of the National Security Adviser. There are security challenges, and one would want to ensure that the purpose for which these cutlasses are being brought in are the ones that satisfy the law,” the CAC clarified.
He reiterated the health implications of consuming foreign frozen poultry products, saying, “The consumption is harmful to health. Also, this particular one has been over one year since they packaged it, and it has expired. The government banned this because of health hazards and to encourage local products,” Olomu stated.
Speaking further, the CAC stated that the items would be handed over to the appropriate agencies for further investigation and regulatory action.
He restated the command’s commitment to ensuring that only consignments that meet the integrity test of compliance will be allowed to go through the port as import or export cargoes.
