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| ACG Eporwei Edike(Right) Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, at the Apapa Port with DC MalantaYusuf on inspection of some export containers with suspected consignments |
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday
intercepted 576 kg of narcotics concealed in 17 kegs of cooking oil meant for
export through Apapa port, Lagos.
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| ACG Eporwei Edike getting a brief from the NDLEA Commander, Apapa Special Command, Mrs Joyce Titus-Awogbuyi, on the intercepted containers at Apapa Port |
Mr Eporwei Edike, the Assistant Comptroller-General of
Customs in charge of Zone A, Lagos, stated this while conducting newsmen round
the containers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the
container marked PCIU1054866 was laden with foods including local spices,
cooking oil, beans and garri.
container marked PCIU1054866 was laden with foods including local spices,
cooking oil, beans and garri.
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| ACG Edike at the Lilypond Command with the CAC of the Command, Mrs Ronke Olubiyi |
Edike said the service received an intelligence report
of the concealment and had to work with the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) to get the drugs out.
of the concealment and had to work with the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) to get the drugs out.
He said that of the 10 containers meant for export,
only three had been fully examined from which the drugs were found.
only three had been fully examined from which the drugs were found.
The zonal coordinator said the remaining seven
containers would be properly scrutinised.
containers would be properly scrutinised.
The controller said all the exhibits would be handed
over to the NDLEA when the examination of the containers was completed.
over to the NDLEA when the examination of the containers was completed.
The NDLEA Commander, Apapa Special Command, Mrs Joyce
Titus-Awogbuyi, said a suspect was apprehended, who would be a link toward
arresting others involved.
Titus-Awogbuyi, said a suspect was apprehended, who would be a link toward
arresting others involved.
The zonal coordinator urged officers at the Apapa Area
1 Command to work hard to avoid a drop in revenue.
1 Command to work hard to avoid a drop in revenue.
He said the command must continue to maintain its lead
position in terms of revenue generation, while ensuring that all monies due to
government were collected.
position in terms of revenue generation, while ensuring that all monies due to
government were collected.
The zonal coordinator, however, said officers should
not create undue delay in cargo clearance process and should also not be
involved in extortion.
not create undue delay in cargo clearance process and should also not be
involved in extortion.
Earlier, at the Lilypond Customs Command, the zonal
coordinator urged officers to work transparently, diligently and selflessly to
attain the target revenue.
coordinator urged officers to work transparently, diligently and selflessly to
attain the target revenue.
“I urge you all to be strong when things are going
tough and not to lose hope when things are not better.
tough and not to lose hope when things are not better.
“You must collect every kobo for government and you
should not collect more than what is to be collected.
should not collect more than what is to be collected.
“You all must be honest since our Motto is Justice
and Honesty,’’ Edike said.
and Honesty,’’ Edike said.
He tasked officers to ensure thorough examination of
containers for export.
containers for export.
The zonal coordinator said the task was very important
in order to guide against exporting sub-standard products, which could present
Nigeria in bad light.
in order to guide against exporting sub-standard products, which could present
Nigeria in bad light.
“Make sure you examine your export containers very
well. It is far easier for exports to give the country bad name than imports.
well. It is far easier for exports to give the country bad name than imports.
“Trade statistics abroad will show the kind of exports
and they will publish it.
and they will publish it.
“Do not get your fingers burnt because of little
things because you have greater potential of getting better on this job,’’
Edike said.
things because you have greater potential of getting better on this job,’’
Edike said.
He also advised the officers to be disciplined in
their dress code; wear their proper ranks and position their berets as
required.
their dress code; wear their proper ranks and position their berets as
required.
“Everybody should wear his proper rank and dress in
the manner approved by the Board.
the manner approved by the Board.
“Ladies should not wear hair do’s that will not allow
the beret to be well positioned on their head,’’ the zonal coordinator said.
the beret to be well positioned on their head,’’ the zonal coordinator said.
The Customs Area Controller, Lilypond Command, Mrs
Ronke Olubiyi, expressed gratitude to the zonal coordinator for his words of
encouragement to officers.
Ronke Olubiyi, expressed gratitude to the zonal coordinator for his words of
encouragement to officers.
She said there was hope that economic activities would
improve in the command.
improve in the command.
