Customs Intercepts Container Of Jollof Rice, Yam Porridge, Egusi From India

The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 20ft container of “Ready-To-Eat Foods’’ like:  egusi soup, jollof rice, ogbono, yam porridge, all imported from India.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Command; Mr Uche Ejesieme.
Yusuf spoke with stakeholders at the SDV/SCOA Terminal while handing over the container of imported prepared foods to officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The controller described the scenario as an “aberration”, considering the fact that government granted zero duty for the importation of machinery for the packaging of agricultural products.
“Why should indigenous menu be imported into the country at a time when investors are much sought after to boost local industries”,  Yusuf asked.
The controller said the command generated 25.7 billion in November, up from N25.3 billion recorded in October.
Yusuf said that the higher revenue was recorded in spite of the recession and low imports.
He said that the command would continue to explore all avenues for maximum revenue collection.
According to him, this is in view of the exigencies of the moment, which placed more responsibilities on the service.
Yusuf urged potential investors to take advantage of the numerous export potential in the country for their socio-economic benefits.
In a related development, while briefing a group of senior officers undergoing training in the command, the controller admonished them to make professionalism, integrity and transparency as their watchword.
He also urged the officers to ensure effective leadership and supervision in carrying out their duties.
Yusuf said the various trade facilitation tools as provided in the automation of  Customs procedures would guide the officers in the discharge of their functions.
The controller told the officers to see training and re-training as a veritable tools that would sharpen their knowledge toward achieving desired results.
He appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, for effectively re-positioning the service in spite of global recession.
“NCS is still working tirelessly to remain on top of its statutory mandate,’’ the controller said.
Yusuf said that this could not have been possible if not for the pragmatic leadership of the comptroller-general and his management.
“In this era and dispensation, officers are expected to be above board with deep sense of commitment and responsibility in the discharge of their functions.
“The Change ideology of the comptroller -general must be given priority attention,’’ the controller said.
He, however, warned that anybody that fails to key into the new order would be seriously sanctioned. 
Prior to yesterday, the Federal Government had  last Friday disclosed at a forum of the automotive industry that it would ban the importation of vehicles through land borders and enforce the presentation of roadworthiness certificates on such vehicles from their countries of origin before allowing them into Nigeria.
The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Aminu Jalal, who said this on behalf of the government, added that it was a means of controlling the influx of used vehicles, popularly called ‘Tokunbo’, into the country.
Stakeholders in the automotive industry had earlier called for strict regulation of the importation of vehicles, noting that poor implementation of the auto policy introduced in the last quarter of 2013 by former President Goodluck Jonathan administration was driving down the volume of their products.
The auto policy prescribed the imposition of 70 per cent tariff on imported cars, both old and new ones.
While importers of new cars are currently paying 70 per cent of the cost of the vehicles as import duty, owners/importers of Tokunbo cars pay 35 per cent. The government has yet to enforce the implementation of the 35 per cent import duty on used cars, which ought to have commenced last year.