Imported User:
The Kano/Jigawa States Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has exposed that it seized more than 11 bags of kolanuts bound for Saudi Arabia, while raking in N450m between January and April.
Alhaji Sanusi Umar, the Comptroller of the command, made this known to newsmen in Kano yesterday.
He said that the kolanuts were found concealed in small polythene bags, which were stacked in larger bags for transportation to Saudi Arabia.
Umar said that the commodities belonged to some passengers departing from the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
“They concealed the kolanuts in small polythene bags as if they were for their own personal consumption, when in fact they were going to sell them in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The comptroller, who did not disclose the value of the commodities, however, explained that the seizure was carried out recently.
“There is a group of people that has formed the habit of smuggling kolanuts. They do not want to follow the due process of exporting such things. We are determined to stop them,” he declared.
Umar who gave the revenue statistics however, said that the amount fell short of the revenue target for the period.
Umar said that the command was expected to realise about N800 million within the period under review.
He attributed the shortfall to the “election year” during, which he said, election materials passed through the Aminu Kano International Airport.
Umar said that customs duty on such materials was not paid, and expressed optimism that payment would be made.
``And, the amount will be staggering. We may be lucky to meet the revenue target then,” the comptroller said.
He also revealed that a total of 382 containers of goods were received by the command within the same period.
Umar explained that the consignment, which was received from the Lagos port, fell short of expectation and pointed out that the goods were not up to a shipload.
He said Alhaji Abdullahi Inde, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, had set up a committee to look into the mode of transfer of containers from the Lagos ports to Kano.
Umar stated that the committee would consider new methods of speeding up the transfer of goods from Lagos to Kano. (NAN)
Add new comment