The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has given an insight into why the service is yet to destroy other truck loads of Tramadol that were intercepted by the service.
Recall that the Nigeria Customs Service destroyed 58 containers of Tramadol worth over N14.7 billion, but on further investigation it was revealed that no fewer than 48 containers of the seized 58 containers of the seized drugs are yet to be destroyed by service.
Speaking with our Correspondent, on why the service is yet to destroy other truck loads of Tramadol, the National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Assistant Comptroller Joseph Attah, said burning of the highly controversial drug is not a one stop action, maintaining that the Service will see to the destruction of the drug as they get approval to do so.
He said, “the burning of this Tramadol is not a one stop action, it is a very tedious process, even the evacuation of these containers to the destruction site is tedious, so what were you expecting, that they will destroy everything in one day, can you do that, do you have the magic wand to get that done, the committee is there, they have been destroying and the destruction continues
“So there is no way for us to finish the destruction in a day, but I can tell you that destruction continues, and the committee will go round all the formation, wherever there is Tramadol and it will be destroyed”, he assured.
However, In a chat with an environmentalist, Mrs. Kofoworola Onibudo, she lampooned the NCS, for not putting into consideration the impact of destruction on the health of the people.
According to her, “I don’t know where the destruction took place, but like you said, if those drugs were destroyed in Shagamu Ogun State, it means the NCS, did not put into consideration what the impact will be on the health of the people even the plants and animals, there are ways to destroy such things now without causing any toxin that can be injurious to life.
“I believe what they should have done is to get approval on how to destroy this substances and not just getting a place, you know burning such substances will produces various compounds toxic to the environment including nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds , carbon monoxide, and particle pollution.
And such destruction is also one of the frequently causes of residential, brush, and forest fires, particularly during drought conditions.
“Another effect of such is that it can also lead to wild fire if not well controlled, you said they destroyed Tramadol that is over 10 containers in a day, this is hazardous and I believe NCS should be sanctioned or called to order, let them seek for ways to destroys such next time, before doing so, that’s my take on that”, she said.
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