Eight Containers Of Cutlasses, Others Seized At Lagos Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command, said yesterday that its officials seized eight containers of crocodile-branded machetes imported from Ghana and other prohibited goods valued at N1.05billion.

Area Controller Adekunle Oloyede said the 206,000 machetes were seized due to security issues in the country, adding that there was no End Users Certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser for the importation of such items.

Other seized items were Indian hemp concealed in two units of Ridgeline trucks and two units of Toyota corolla vehicles, 640 bales of used clothes, 236,500 pieces of used shoes, 62,500 pieces of new lady’s shoes, 1,670,400 pieces of Chloroquine injections, and 1,814,400 pieces Novalgen injection. Others were 48,850 rolls of cigarettes, 23,800 tins of sodium bromate and baking powder.

According to him, the command generated N135.44billion between January and March, noting that the amount was N22.7billion or 20.18 per cent above the revenue generated in 2021.

Oloyede told newsmen that the N135.4billion for the first quarter of the year was N22,7billion higher than what was collected during the same period last year, which was N112.6billion.

On export, he said that the total tonnage of goods that were exported through the port stood at 71,014.4mt with a total FOB value of N56billion as against 44,502.9mt and FOB value of N31.3billion for the same period last year.

He identified commodities exported through the port as copper ingots, stainless steel ingots, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, cocoa beans, rubber, cocoa butter leather and frozen shrimps.

As part of its anti-smuggling activities, the Command seized 206,000 pieces of machetes in 8 containers, 640 bales of used clothes, 236,500 pieces of used shoes and 62,500 new ladies shoes.

Among other items seized were 145 kg of Colorado (Indian hemp) which were concealed in two units of Ridgeline trucks and two units of Toyota Corolla vehicles., 1,670,400 pieces of Chloroquine injection and 1,814,400 pieces of Novalgen injection.

Oloyede put the duty paid value of the items at N1,048bn.

He disclosed that despite successes recorded by the Command, it has been facing challenges in the area of treatment of overtime cargo because of the non-implementation of the extant laws guiding uncleared goods.

Part of the challenges was lack of government warehouses near the seaports, adding that there were lots of difficulties in logistics and handling cost.

On the 2022 fiscal policy which came into effect April 1, he disclosed that the implementation would be effective on June 1.

This according to him was because of a grace period of 90 days given by the Finance Ministry.

This means that the controversial new duty rate and excise rates would wait till then for implementation.

As much as the Service is putting effort to make the necessary adjustments, we are experiencing minor delays in its full implementation because the system is not designed to be retroactive”, he said