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Tag: frozen chicken

  • Saleswoman faces N5.2m frozen chicken theft charge

    A 30-year-old saleswoman, Blessing Abel, on Friday appeared in a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing 4,000 cartons of frozen chicken valued at N5.2 million, property of her employer.

    Abel is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and forgery. She, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

    But the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Ben Ekundayo insisted that the accused committed the offences on March 13 at Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lekki, Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused stole 4,000 cartons of frozen chicken valued at N5.2 million belonging to her employer, Mrs Benita Egbuchua.

    In addition, the accused also forged the invoice and receipt of Silver Stone Farm Ltd, where she is working, and issued the fake receipts to customers.

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    “She also diverted the company’s money to her own account and when she was asked to account for proceeds from the sales, she claimed the customers had not paid.”

    The offences contravened Section 287 (7), 365 and 411 of the Criminal Law 2015.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 (7) stipulates seven years imprisonment while Section 411 provides two years for offenders.

    Magistrate Olumide Fusika granted the accused N1 million bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until May 25.

  • Customs destroys N83m worth of frozen chicken

    The Comptroller of Customs, Federal Operations Unit, (FOU) Zone C’ Owerri, Controller Amajam Bukar Alhaji, Tuesday supervised the destruction of  4118 cartons of  poultry products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N83,389,500.

    He warned against the consumption of imported frozen chicken, adding that the chemicals used as preservatives could be harmful to health.

    Narrating how the 1×40 container conveying the contraband was intercepted, during the destruction exercise that was witnessed by other security agencies including the DSS, Police, National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and officials of the  National Agency for Food Administration (NAFDAC),  Amajam, disclosed that it took the collaboration of the Army and NAFDAC to impound the truck.

    According to him, “we virtually paid to get intelligence on the movement of the consignment after we learnt that they were loading the truck at Ore. We kept our surveillance until the truck entered into Owerri and when they noticed that they were being followed, they drove to the stadium, where they parked the truck and deflated the tires to make it impossible to drive it away. At that point we called the Army and Police for backup before we were able to impound the truck and brought it to our headquarter”.

    Speaking further on the dangers of consuming imported frozen poultry products, the Customs boss, maintained that, “Nigerians do not know the type of chemicals used for the preservation of the chicken. The chemicals are dangerous to health so consuming the products is a serious health hazard that should be avoided”

    In a related development FOU Zone C also impounded Contraband with a DPV of N261 million.

    Amajam while parading the seized items, gave the breakdown as follows,  1591 used tires with Duty Paid Value of N14,378,400,  3889 bags of rice with duty Paid Value of N101,478,000, 380 cartons of soap with duty paid value of N10,093,009, 1x40ft container intercepted along Aba/Eleme containing assorted goods including 6600 pieces of sewing machine, 3080 sewing machine motor, 47 pieces of empty gas cylinder, 19 pieces of gas stove, 9900 packets of measuring tape, 1080 bundles of PVC package, 320 scissors amongst  other items with a DPV of N111,572,300 and one Nissan Almera with DPV of 4,725,000

    Other seizures that’s were still being investigated include, “a container of 1401 rolls of fabric with Duty Paid Value of N14,100,000, a 2016 Toyota Prado Jeep with Duty Paid Value of N25,658,201, 2013 Toyota Prado Jeep with Duty Paid Value of N17,349,647, 2011 Toyota Prado Jeep with Duty Paid Value of N74,250,000, 2010 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon Bullet Proof with Duty Paid Value of N74,250,000, 2008 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon with Duty Paid Value of N18,528,750 and 2016 Range Rover with duty paid value of N28,049,645”.

    The Customs boss, explained that the commodities seized  contravened of the law with some of the infractions bordering on false declarations and deliberate attempts to evade duty payment.

    He said,  “we cannot ease business if there is fraudulent declaration. In an honest society where honest declaration is done then the ease of doing business will be achieved.”

    Amajam described d wrong classification to evade duty payments as acts of smuggling, urging importers and agents not to desist from cutting corners and ensure proper classification of their goods and commodities.

    “Be law abiding. Always follow the legal provisions for any imports and exports. Classify appropriately and do the right thing at all times,” he charged.

    Comptroller Amajam who declared a zero tolerance for smuggling said he would in addition to anti-smuggling activities engage the media to raise awareness of the dangers and negative impacts of smuggling. He decried the vice saying that it has led to loss of jobs, increase in criminal activity and attendant insecurity.

    According to him, “FOU Zone ‘C’ Owerri is committed to enforcing government policy and we can do this through your help raising awareness and educate the public about the dangers of smuggling,” he told the press. “Not only does smuggling damage our economy, some of the smuggled goods threaten the health and safety of our citizens”.

    He restated that the command under his watch will intensify its anti-smuggling operations to sustain the mandate of FOU and bring smuggling to its barest minimum.

    Amajam explained that those that buy rice for subsistence in the open market have no case with the Service. He urged them to check on the authentic website or make enquiries at the nearest customs formation for any clarifications on trade restrictions and provisions.

    He called on the public to report any suspected activity of smuggling and volunteer any information that will be of benefit to anti-smuggling activities adding that such information will be treated with discretion.

     

     

  • 1.2m metric tonnes of poultry products smuggled into Nigeria annually – PAN

    The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) has given 1.2million metric tons as the estimated volume of poultry products smuggled into Nigeria annually.

    PAN President, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, gave the figure in Lagos Thursday.

    Nigeria, according to him, is losing about N700 billion annually in revenue to smuggling of poultry products.

    According to him, the smuggled products, which are majorly frozen chi‎cken and turkey, have great health impact on the well-being of Nigerians.

    He regretted that the government is yet to compensate  farmers who suffer  losses as a result of  cooperating with the government to destroy the affected birds.

    He informed that poultry farmers lost millions from the destruction of birds confirmed to have been infested with bird flu.

    As a result of this, he said the affected famers have not been able to restock. Eggs prices, he noted, will continue to go up with increasing prices of the key feed components.

    According to him, rising feed costs have affected the costs of egg production from increased demand for corn and soyabean supplies.

    Export of corn and soya beans following the increased world demand for feed grains have resulted in unprecedented feed price increases beginning from last year.

    Oduntan the prices of maize per tonne has risen to N120, 000 while that of soyabeans has gone up to N145, 000.

    The prices were N60, 000 and N80,000 respectively two years ago.

    As a result of these increased feed ingredient prices, production cost per dozen for egg producers,he  explained have  increased.

    The increased costs in feed ingredients, he added, have resulted in cumulative costs for egg producers during the past two years. Given the projected demand for corn is likely to increase in future years and  depreciation of the naira, the PAN boss said these factors will continue to pressure poultry producers’ costs and profitability numbers making feeding efficiencies even more important.

    Oduntan noted that the association will not relent in its efforts and focus on policy, advocacy and institutional linkages that will put poultry production on the path of excellence.

    He however, announced its National Poultry Show scheduled between November 29 and 30 at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

     

  • Stakeholders urge Buhari to sustain ban on frozen chicken

    Stakeholders urge Buhari to sustain ban on frozen chicken

    The President, Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) Mr Taiwo Adeoye has advised Resident Muhammadu Buhari to sustain ongoing ban on frozen poultry products.

    He said the ban will allow Nigeria to increase its animal protein production to meet the daily protein intake as recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

    Mr. Adeoye spoke during the  7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and induction ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science held at the international Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

    “One of the ways to achieve hunger free Nigeria is the provision of a deliberate conducive atmosphere to encourage animal scientists to increase animal protein production to meet the daily protein intake as recommended by FAO,” he said.

    Adeoye, in a statement in Abuja, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy to animal production among other options.

    “To address this problem,  we need to build a large, strong, diversified, sustainable and competitive economy that guarantees high standard of living and quality of life for the people through efficient production guaranteed through professionalism,” he said.

    The President, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Professor Israel Adu, said the institute, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has produced the issue of Minimum Operating Standards (MOS) for curbing the spread of bird flu in Nigeria.