Business
Customs Recovers N390m From Illegal Importers
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it intensified surveillance which led to the recovery of more than N390 million from fraudulent importers.
The amount is mostly proceeds of underpayments by importers.
Mr. Tahir Musa, an Assistant Comptroller-General, who is Head of the Joint Task Force on Physical Examination of Goods at the port, told newsmen in Abuja that the recoveries were made within six weeks.
The task force, which consists of Customs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), seized 72 containers and 39 jumbo bags of textiles at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Musa was quoted as saying that the task force was an innovative system aimed at complementing the efforts of customs area controllers at the ports for ease of administration.
“The emphasis is on trade facilitation and we will not do anything that will not facilitate trade,” Musa said.
According to him, any false declarations on goods will result in seizure.
He said that the task force, which came into the ports in November 2010, had assisted greatly in “quick general port administration.”
Musa warned that the task force would not tolerate extortions, as the welfare of staff and officers of NCS remained the priority of the Comptroller-General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.
He said the service had been straightened with the recruitment of new officers, adding that the infusion of fresh blood “has done us a lot of good.”
“As people leave the service, we replace them,” Musa said.