By Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “D”  said its operatives have seized diesel, insecticide, textile materials, vehicles, used tyres, rice among others worth N51,238,235 million in the last five months.

The Comptroller, FOU,  Zone “D” Adesanmi Omiye, who stated this at a press conference, held at the Zonal headquarters, Bauchi on Thursday, confirmed that the seizures which were from February to June 2021 included a vehicle containing 33,900 liters of diesel which were packaged in 565 bags worth N12,910,250 adding that they were seized around Otukpa in Benue State.

Omiye explained that other seizures included 24 Bundles of Foreign Textiles Material with a DPV of N8,880,000.00, four vehicles with a Duty Paid Value of N5,130,000, and 27 bales of second-hand clothing with a Duty Paid Value of N4,860,000.

“The operatives of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘D’ Bauchi apart from blocking and suppressing smuggling within the Zone have made seizures of 565 sacks containing 60 liters each of Vehicle/Petroluem Products (Diesel) totaling 33,900 liters with a DPV of N12,910,250.

“Twenty Four (24) Bundles of Foreign Textiles Material with a DPV of N8,880,000.00, four Used vehicles with a DPV of N5,130,000.00, 27 Bales of Second Hand Clothing with DPV of N4,860,000.00 and 236 Cartons of Foreign Soap with DPV of  N1,556,500.00.

“Others are 143 Foreign Parboiled Rice with a DPV of N3,776,000.00, 196 Cartons of Foreign spaghetti with a DPV of N1,411,200.00, 60 Jerrycans of Vegetable Oil with a DPV of N1,440,000.00 and 52 used Tukumbo Tyres with a DPV of N624,000.00.

Africa was never a beggarly continent – Ex-Edo Chief of Staff

“The total DPV of all seizures is N51,238,235.00,” he said.

The Zonal Comptroller said that the actions of the Custom operatives are in line with the provisions of Section 8 and Section 158 (Power to Patrol Freely) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.

Speaking in an interview with journalists on the seized diesel, he said that “this diesel was seized at Otukpa in Benue State and from our little investigation, it seems to become all the way from Port Harcourt laden with 565 bags of diesel.

“We know that this is supposed to be taken out of the country but we were able to seize it. Everything inside there is diesel and this is supposed to be for local consumption. If we had compromised, it would have gone to a foreign country and they will be enjoying our subsidy which is meant for our local market and we will be suffering here.

“What we will do now as enabled by the relevant sections of the law of the federation, we will auction it and pay the proceeds into the government’s account. The diesel, because of the combustive nature, you can see some already spilling on the ground, we have to auction it immediately.

“The Nigerian Customs Service assures the public that nothing of this such will escape our eagle eyes.”

He said that these “unprecedented Seizures” were achieved as a result of sharing of information, intelligence gathering and doggedness of the Officers/Men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘D’ in making the Zone unbearable for smugglers.

“Let me use this medium to plead with well-meaning Nigerians to assist in providing genuine information that could aid in eradicating the menace of smuggling in the zone and the country at large,” Omiye stated.