. . . Commissions remodelled health facility in Ebubu
By: Felix Ikpotor
The Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne Port, of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has seized a total of 56 containers of vegetable oil, tomatoes and used clothes with a duty paid value of 5, 530,080,000 Billion Naira.
The items classified as contraband goods were concealed under the title of machineries, spareparts and imported through the free trade zone of the port.
Controller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi while conducting newsmen round the site of the seized containers at Onne Wharf on Tuesday, lamented the abuse of the concession granted by the Federal Government to operators in the free trade zones.
Adeniyi noted that the federal government of Nigeria in its quest to encourage local productions of goods, created special economic zones, free zones, free trade zones, some of them for exports, some of them for local production of goods. He said for these zones to operate fully, a number of incentives and waivers were done for which includes importation of plants, raw materials and machineries free of duties.
The customs CG said over the last two years the service have raised alarm of the abuse that these concessions have been subjected to by importers.
He said importers now inport goods under the cover of the free trade zone concessions and later divert them into the markets.
Adeniyi also said the vegetable oil and used clothings were seized because they were imported in contravention of sections 55 and 233 of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023.
“The Command in Onne has been undertaking a review of operations of some goods that are imported through Onne ports but are destined to some free trade zones, and other economic zones in the country and what we have discovered through our intelligence and our risk-based analysis of the profiles of these importers is that so many of them have started to abuse the free zone concessions.
“In the course of our profiling, we have discovered that through these importers who are operating in the free zone have imported a total of 45 containers of vegetable oil, Delicious Pur brand. 1,050 jerry cans inside each of the 45 containers. And there are 25 liters each with a total duty paid value of 4,252,500,000 Naira only.
“The remarkable thing about these containers is that they were declared as machinery and spare parts. And when we discovered them during physical examination, we discovered that they were vegetable oil and it is obvious that the intention of the importer is not to take them to free trade zones for any manufacturing activities other than for them to introduce them into our local markets, “he said.
In addition to the seized vegetable oils, Adeniyi said the Command also seized nine 40 footer containers of used clothing with a duty paid value of 1,045,580,000 Naira. He also said two 20 footer containers of foreign tomato paste with a duty paid value of 232,000,000 Naira were also seized within the period.
He assured that after investigations, owners of the seized goods would be prosecuted according to the relevant import laws.
The Customs boss ststed that thr action is to safeguard the nation’s local economy, public health and security architecture.
“What we have done in the interception of these containers is aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests, protecting public health, support domestic production, and ensure compliance with the country’s import laws and regulations.
“Importing consignments that violate existing restrictions or involve false declarations that we have seen in this particular case can have serious consequences for the Nigerian economy, Nigerian security, and can further deprive the government of legitimate revenue. It also exposes our manufacturers, farmers, and other local producers to unfair competition, ” he added.
He commended officers and men of the Command for their vigilance in detecting the fraudulently declared goods.
Meanwhile, the NCS CG has inaugurated the reconstructed Ebubu Health Care Centre in Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State done by the Port Harcourt Area II Command.
Adeniyi while speaking at the inauguration, commended the Area II Commander, Controller, Aliyu Alkali for heading to his marching orders given to all commanders to carryout Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes in all commands in the country.
He said the CSR programme falls under the service’s Customs Care Policy. He disclosed that through the policy, the service has built schools, intervened in healthcare and other programmes across commands in the country.
Adeniyi further called on the Ebubu community to take ownership of the facility and ensure its protection from vandals.
Also speaking, the Port Harcourt Area II Controller, Aliyu Alkali, appreciated Adeniyi for the support and encouragement to carryout the renovation work.
He said the health center was in a total state of abandonement as all facilities were allegedly looted away before the intervention by the Service.
Alkali said the renovated heakth facility would ease the burden of healthcare seekers in the area, adding that the project represents the Commands commitment to the welfare of the communities within their operational area.
In his speech, the Director Medical Services of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Tonye Lawson-Jack, expressed the board’s gratitude to the Customs for intervening in the renovation and upgrading of the facility. He assured that the board has sufficient manpower to handle the needs of healthcare seekers in the facility.
