As part of measures to ensure price stability and the availability of foodstuffs in the market, the Nigerian Customs Service has vowed to completely block the smuggling of foodstuffs from any part of the country to Niger Republic.
The Controller of Border Drilling in charge of Zone 4, Controller Kolapo Oladeji, stated that the Nigerian Customs has resolved to use all legal means to ensure that no foodstuffs are smuggled out of the country through any of its land borders.
While parading some pharmaceutical drugs allegedly smuggled into the country by the offenders at the Customs Sokoto command office on Thursday, he described the activities of the smugglers as unpatriotic and detrimental to the country’s development.
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He emphasized that the Nigerian Customs is fully committed to ensuring a safe environment for residents and ensuring adequate food supplies to the populace.
According to the controller, “We have been mandated by the Comptroller General of Customs to ensure that no food is allowed to be smuggled out of the country henceforth. My team in Zone 4, comprising Northwest states, has been empowered with manpower and other equipment to ensure that the task ahead of us is tackled judiciously.
“It is an act of wickedness when our government invests in and encourages more persons to engage in farming, and some elements within the country now prefer to smuggle such foodstuffs to neighboring countries. It has to be stopped, and I want to assure residents of the state that we are fully ready and prepared to stop such activities henceforth.”
Other items seized by the customs officers include soaps, petroleum motor spirits (also known as fuel), among others.
Meanwhile, the team, in conjunction with officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, will conduct thorough tests on some of the drugs allegedly with fake NAFDAC numbers to ascertain their authenticity.