…. Says Customs raises N2.413 trillion for FG
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (Rtd) on Thursday cautioned Nigerians against the consumption of imported rice describing it as dangerous to human health.
Speaking at the 54th Session of the State House Briefings held at Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ali who used the occasion to provide key updates on the strides being made by the Nigeria Customs in line with the Service’s vision to excel in the efficient and timely collection of, and accounting for revenue, while promoting trade facilitation, said that imported rice are chemicalized for the purpose of preserving them.
The Customs boss Colonel Ali, who also said that most of the foreign processed rice imported into Nigeria may have expired in the country of production they are shipped into Nigeria.
Said he: “It has been discovered that most of the foreign rice imported into Nigeria must have been produced a long time ago and have been unsold for upward of two to three years. At the point the producers believe they may be expiring and would be destroyed, importers would go to buy them cheaply, put chemical to preserve it and now brought to Nigeria for sale.”
Explaining further,, Ali said the health implications associated with the chemicalized imported rice which include kidney failures and other health complications made the federal government to give the Nigeria Customs Service to declare full blown war on the importation of foreign rice.
The Customs helmsman has described Nigerian smugglers as very clever and sophisticated as well as more devastating against the fierce war waged by officers of the Customs.
He appealed to Nigerians to understand the officers whenever they raid markets to seize foreign rice , saying that it is for the safety and good health of the citizens.
Ali however assured that the Customs Service has acquired and still acquiring sophisticated equipment to effectively man the nation’s borders and collect relevant revenues for the country.
Meanwhile, the Customs boss has disclosed that the federal government revenue-generating agency has so far generated a total sum of N2.413 trillion out of the N3.019 trillion revenue target set for it by government as at October 2022.
According to him: “Given the global business outlook the Nigeria Customs Service is doing so well in terms of revenue generation. We were given a revenue targets of N3.019 trillion in 2022 and so far NCS has collected the sum of N2.413 trillion as at October 2022”.
He also gave an indication that Nigeria Customs is ready to effect the law on Collection of Telecoms Fees to boost the revenue base of the federation.
