Customs Auctions N17.5m Foreign Banana In Sokoto

Sokoto Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has auctioned 1,824 cartons of foreign bananas en route to the Niger Republic from Ghana with a duty paid value of over N17.5 million as part of enforcement of the presidential directives on border closure between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

The area comptroller of the command, Musa Omale, who disclosed this said, the truck conveying the Ghanaian product was intercepted while trying to cross over to Niger Republic through an unapproved route from Ghana without valid documents.

The auction process was carried out at the premises of the area command, whereby a carton of the said Banana was auctioned at N2,500 and N1,500 respectively depending on the condition of the perishable item which has been in the conveyor truck for over four days, under the watchful eyes of the officers and men of the area command.

“The Nigeria/Niger borders were on the 30th of July 2023 closed under the directives of President Bola Tinubu as a result of coup d’etat by the military in Niger republic.

“The seizure of the foreign banana has revealed how tight security is along the borders of the two countries, in compliance with the presidential directives.

“We urged the general public to remain patient, as the Nigeria Customs is hoping for an amicable solution to the crises in the neighboring country,” said the comptroller.

The Nigeria Customs further warned the general public that, the border closure between Nigeria and Niger Republic still persists based on the presidential directives.