The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos has expressed alarm over the ongoing smuggling of rice, petrol and other goods, highlighting it as a significant contributor to the foreign exchange crisis and a threat to the nation’s economy.
The Unit criticised the damaging impact of rice smuggling and other illegal imports, stressing that such activities rob the federal government of critical tax revenue.
A few months ago, the service clarified that the importation of rice into the country through land border remains banned.
Kola Oladeji, the Customs Area Comptroller for Zone A, shared these concerns while presenting seized foreign parboiled rice to journalists at the command.
He said:
Oladeji explained that the persistent daily exchange of naira for CFA contributes significantly to the naira’s instability in the market.
According to The Sun, he called for an end to the smuggling of rice and other prohibited items.
Although Oladeji did not specify the quantity or value of the confiscated goods, he mentioned that the seizures were made within the last 24 hours at the South West borders.
He added that the operation was the result of prolonged surveillance and careful coordination.
Recall that at the directive of President Bola Tinubu, the NCS began the distribution of seized food items to Nigerians to ameliorate the hardship in the country.
Meanwhile, TimesNow.com.ng earlier reported that the NCS had integrated 25 banks into its Indigenous payment and clearing platform.
The platform, called B’Odogwu, was launched to modernise customs processes and enhance national revenue generation.
The Customs revealed that the platform has diversified shipments, boosted trade and introduced new revenue streams.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
