The Nigeria customs service, Tin can Island command has intercepted and seized army camouflage uniforms suspected to have been brought into the port illegally.

The camouflage uniforms, according to comptroller of the Tin can Island command, Nuhu Isa Mammud  came into the port from the United States of America, on march 20, 2012, in a 40ft container, initially declared as carrying cars but upon joint examination by the customs and other Agencies in the boot of the  three cars were discovered to have 10 pieces of Nigerian Army colour camouflage uniforms (shirts), 6 trousers, 10 pairs of slippers (army colour), 7 army face caps and 10 pairs of shoes.

Speaking with journalists, Nuhu posited that the role of customs goes beyond revenue collection which is very important, but extends to securing the Nigerian borders and by extension, the Nation.

According to him, because of the security implications, you have to have security clearance from the NSA to bring this kind of import

Apart from the security implication, the uniforms, he siad, were seized due largely to the manner in which they were brought in, adding that if there were appropriate documentation on the consignment, it couldn’t have been seized.

The owners of the consignment we learned, have claimed ownership of the said uniforms but have not given any genuine reasons why they included these in their import. Preliminary investigations, he said, would be carried out before the case will be handed over to the appropriate quarters for further investigations.

On his first two months in office at the Tin Can Island Command, Compt. Nuhu said the collection of revenue has increased from N15bn in January to over N19bn in February and its expected to hit N22bn target in March.

According to him, the first quarter of every year is always the most difficult one because of expectations from the budget. Importers, he said, tend to slow down in anticipation and this affects the customs revenue drive.

On anti smuggling activities, the command, he said, is blocking all identified loopholes assuring that those caught engaging in similar nefarious activities will be punished.

From February to March a wide range of consignments ranging from furniture, new fridges, electronics, shoes, ladies bags and vehicles which were declared with false documentations were seized and are still under detention according to the command’s boss.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos