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FOU releases report on anti-smuggling activities

By on May 31, 2013

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’  Ikeja Lagos State under the leadership of Controller Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, DC Inuwa Mohammed Abubakar,  has released report on  anti-smuggling activities, saying that 1,487 contraband goods were seized  between January 2013 and May 18, 2013.

VALUE of goods: The Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ – Ikeja. ASCI EJESIEME, U.I in the report disclosed that  goods  were valued at Four hundred and forty five million, forty thousand and eighty naira (N445,040,080) with a payable duty of Eighty one million, six hundred and seventy nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty one naira (N81,679,951)  with  a duty paid value of five hundred and twenty six million, seven hundred and twenty thousand and thirty one naira (N526,720,031).

According to him, the unit while  complementing  efforts of the Customs Command in Lagos zone, in terms of maintenance of a conducive environment in areas of security to ensure seamless transactions in the various commands rolled out proactive measures  to ensure that smuggling activities were  nipped in the bud.

The report: He said that  report covers the giant strides of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ in  strictly enforcing the ban on importation of Rice through the land borders.

Suppression of smuggling
Ejesieme stated: “Our remarkable exploits on suppression of smuggling generally,followed the strategies which the Controller initiated in this campaign as well as our resuscitated collaboration and synergy with all the critical stakeholders, particularly the Military, Police, Para-Military, the various associations in the Maritime Industry as well as the Media.”

New strategy: Part of the proactive measures which the Controller initiated, he said was  the Customs ‘Community Relations Approach’ which culminated into the creation of an enlightenment patrol team, made up of officers and men with the requisite experience and knowledge, charged with  responsibilities to sensitize and educate the public on the dangers of smuggling, especially Rice, Poultry Products etc, following the marching order on zero tolerance for these consignment by the CGC and the Management team.

“It is pertinent to note that efforts of the Enlightenment team led to the spectacular seizure of illegally imported parboiled rice along the Agbara-Badagry unapproved inland waterways.

Enhancement of infrastructure: “As a way of guaranteeing optimal performance and enhancement of efficiency, the Controller shortly on resumption, embarked on massive restructuring and refurbishment of all the offices through replacement of old and dilapidated office furniture and equipment and replacing them with the state of the art furniture. The psychological implication of these gestures on the officers and men cannot be over-emphasized.

“The Unit is also among the first to fully comply with the directive on Establishment of a Ruling Centre. We have organized series of lectures on Nigeria Trade Hub and E-mailing procedures for all cadres.

“Also a combined team of Resource officers who are vast in areas such as Import guidelines, prohibitions, Airport/Baggage procedures, concessions to passengers were at the Chinese Embassy on the request of the Chinese Consulate in Lagos to educate and sensitize the Chinese Business Community on some basic guidelines on the related topics. There were commendations and eulogies from the Deputy Consular General of the Chinese embassy in Lagos.”

Inter agency relations: In view of the need to ensure collaboration and synergy between the Controller and the various agencies of Government, coupled with the need to familiarize himself with heads of critical agencies of government – Military, Police and Paramilitary, the Controller, on assumption of office,  according to him, paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state, Compol Ibrahim Manko, mni, the AIG Zone 2 Onikan, Mamman Tsafe, mni and others.

Stakeholders engagement: Following the renewed vigor of the unit to ensure practical zero tolerance for the importation of frozen Poultry Products into the country, the Controller  he added initiated periodic meetings with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Agric Sector to deliberate on measures to eradicate this menace. The meeting later became enlarged to include the Cold Room Operators and Processors who are also considered as very critical stakeholders.

Part of the gains of the forum is the sharing of intelligence between the FOU ‘A’ and these groups. This approach has led to monumental seizures and destructions of frozen Poultry Products, he said.

Anti-smuggling report: “Generally speaking, the unit has continually remained on top of its statutory functions of suppressing smuggling. The latest approach of enlightenment campaign gave the necessary boost to our operational results. Consequently, the unit recorded one thousand four hundred and eighty seven (1,487) contraband goods between January 2013 and May 18, 2013, valued at four hundred and forty five million, forty thousand and eighty naira (N445,040,080) with a payable duty of Eighty one million, six hundred and seventy nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty one naira (N81,679,951).

It had a duty paid value of Five hundred and twenty six million, seven hundred and twenty thousand and thirty one naira (N526,720,031)”

Seizures: “Out of these  figures, the unit seized and destroyed twenty three thousand, five hundred and sixty two (23,562) cartons of assorted Poultry Products valued at Eighty-two million, four hundred and sixty seven thousand naira (N82,467,000), a payable duty of Sixteen million, four hundred and ninety three thousand, four hundred naira (N16,493,400) with a duty paid value of Ninety eight million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, four hundred naira (N98,960,400).

“Similarly, the Unit recorded a total of Eighteen thousand, five hundred and fifty (18,550) bags of 50kg parboiled Rice valued at ninety two million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (N92, 750,000), with a duty of Nine million, two hundred and seventy-five thousand (N9, 275,000) and a duty paid value of one hundred and two million, twenty five thousand naira (N102, 025,000). These figures represent more than 50 per cent increase when compared with the report of the corresponding period of last year.

“It is important to state that consequent upon the ban of Rice Importation through the land borders, the command beamed its searchlight on some volatile areas, particularly along the waterways which have been identified as flashpoints with a view to blocking all loopholes and supply chains.

“The same strategy was also adopted in case of frozen Poultry Products and all of these strategies provided the unit the necessary impetus to up the ante in anti-smuggling activities over the period.

Proactive measure
“Recall that the Federal Government in its wisdom placed this ban on frozen Poultry as a proactive measure to protect the investments of our local farmers who have invested heavily on Poultry farming and other Agro-allied Industries.  Also the issue of job creation for our teeming youths made it more imperative for the service to enforce the ban” he explained.

Beyond this,  Ejesieme  said that there was need  to safeguard the Health of the nation in view of the understanding that these imported frozen poultry products contains chemical substances that are injurious and detrimental to health.

Security, escorts and protocol: “During the period under reference, the unit regularly played host to a number of VIPs including ministers, foreign partners of NCS, Members of the National Assembly, COWA Executives, for the recent foundation laying ceremony of proposed COWA International Secondary School in Seme as well as the Skill Acquisition programme for the Award of Certificates to COWA Members who went for various vocational trainings.

“The combination of the Lagos Roving Team, the Public Relations and the Protocol Units ensures that all visits of VIP and others are given the necessary attention under the general supervision of the Staff Officer”  Ejesieme said.

Future plans: During the first meeting between the Controller and all Unit/Sectional heads, the Controller he said  tasked all the officers to surpass the achievements of the previous year.

Though the unit is not a Revenue generating command, he said that  its role in enforcing compliance with the Federal Government Policy in terms of trade remained  was very crucial.

“The unit will not relent on this statutory responsibility. It is on this note, that the Controller has regularly reiterated the operational readiness of the unit as it is now better positioned to confront these hydra-headed monsters of smuggling both in this year and beyond. The unit has put modalities in place  to ensure that impressive results are achieved, particularly with the number of operational vehicles, arms/ammunition, etc, graciously made available to FOU ‘A’ by the Comptroller-General of Customs and his Management team” he added.

Commitment to war against smuggling: The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’  he said was  totally committed to the war on smuggling with a view to completely eradicating the menace.

“In the light of the above, smugglers are hereby warned to keep away from smuggling and toe the line of sanity as the Federal Operations Unit will continue to deal with anybody or group that might want to test our will.

“However, all genuine stakeholders are assured of our cooperation and support in terms of legitimate trade facilitation” he noted.

 

 

 

[Vanguard]