The Nigeria Customs
Service(NCS) in collaboration with the Poultry Association of Association (PAN) on Tuesday, destroyed N70 million worth of poultry products as part of its commitment to fight against smuggling of poultry products into the country.
The commitment was made at the official launch of operation “Hawk Descend” at the Seme border by officials of Customs and members of Poultry Association of Nigeria.
Our correspondent reports that 10,000 cartons of poultry products valued at N70million were destroyed by the customs officials during the event.
The joint sensitisation is to checkmate smuggling of products into the country from its border point with the Republic of Benin.
The Comptroller General of Customs,(CGC) Mr Dikko Abdullahi, said that the aim of the operation was to achieve national food security and protection of the nation’s economy.
The CGC represented by his deputy, Mr Tahil Musa, said that the consumption of the products poses a grave health hazard to teeming Nigerians when consumed.
“The Hawk Descend is a special operation to fire shot in our war against smuggling of frozen chickens, turkeys and other poultry products into the country.
“The operation will be conducted in the South-Western border axis covering our command and patrols in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States and it would be for three months.
“During this period, our operatives will intercept smuggled products which will be destroyed in line with the provision of extant laws and regulations. There will be no hiding place for smuggled chickens in our land because our hawks will descend and mop them out of circulation.
“There are millions of patriotic Nigerians who have invested their hard earned resources in the local poultry sector so the unfair competition from smuggled chickens threatens their investment and capacity.
“So any form of smuggling would not be tolerated,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to cooperate with the Nigeria Customs Service in the fight against smuggling.
“The destruction of seized poultry products is stretching our logistics to the limits so the manner of disposal is equally raising serious environmental questions.
“We shall engage Ministries of the Environment at Federal and state levels, environment activists, NGOs and other interested stakeholders to pursue better ways of disposal in a cost effective and environmentally sustainable manner.
“We are counting on all stakeholders as dependable allies because our war is your war and we must win it together,’ he said.
The National President of Poultry Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, in his address said that about 80 per cent of poultry products are imported from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria.
Oduntan represented by the Director, General of the Association, Mr Onallo Akpa, said that over 500 metric tonnes of poultry products were being imported from European countries alone into the country despite the efforts of Nigeria poultry farmers.
“Formalin which is the chemical used to embalm corpses is the same that is used to preserve the frozen products before importation to the country and it is very dangerous to our health.
“Other than ruining the Nigerian economy, the destruction of the local poultry industry and the erosion of family livelihoods, Nigerians are worse off by the continued patronage of these unwholesome smuggled poultry products and it can bring a collapse to the economy.
“We must not allow smuggling to destroy our economy; so we must work together to save our economy,’ Oduntan said.
The Area Controller of Seme Command, Mohammed Ndalati, said that his command would ensure that smuggling was totally eradicated.