The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has warned of planned importation or smuggling in of frozen chicken from China and Ecuador.
In a circular sited by LEADERSHIP, the service warned her officers to tighten security at all airports and border posts.
The memo dated 9th of September, 2020 and signed by acting deputy comptroller in charge of enforcement, I.T Magaji and addressed to all zonal coordinators, Area comptrollers and Border drill coordinators, said, the Chinese government has detected coronavirus in imported food products.
Accordingly, the comptroller general of Customs, Col Hameed Ali, warned all commands and zones to intensify anti-smuggling activities towards ensuring that the frozen chicken are not smuggled into Nigeria.
The statement reads, “Intelligence reports reaching Headquarters reveals that during routine screening of meat and seafood, Chinese authorities detected coronavirus in a sample of frozen Chicken wings and shrimps from Brazil and Ecuador.
“You are reminded that importation of Live or Dead Birds including, frozen poultry; HS Code Code 0105: 100-0105.99. 0106.31.00.00010639.00.00, 0207:26.00.00 and 0210:99.00.00 through land border, airport and seaport are absolutely prohibited.
“Consequently, the CGC has directed all commands and zone are to intensify anti-smuggling activities towards ensuring that the frozen chicken are not illegally smuggle into the country through the land border, airport and seaports”, the statement added.
