The Nation Newspaper

Tag: goods

  • Guidelines on disposal of seized, overtime goods out

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has approved a new procedure for the disposal of seized and overtime goods in its bid to address some of the perceived irregularities relating to past procedure including fake online auctions.

    It confirmed that it is setting up four different committees to handle the disposal of these categories of goods. The committees include an Assessment Committee, Disposal Committee, Seizure Committee and Overtime Committee.

    According to the new guidelines endorsed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd), perishable items with or without defendants are to be properly disposed of by the relevant committee.

    Goods classified as general goods are to be disposed of after condemnation by a competent court of law: “Condemnation shall be done after 30 days of seizure, so far as there is no notice of claim or litigation.”

    The guidelines also stipulated that all overtime cargoes are to be published in the Federal Government’s gazette when they fall due over 30 days.

    Under the new dispensation, the NCS will advertise information on seized and overtime goods for disposal with their reserve prices in the media and on its official website. The authorities enjoined interested buyers to apply online, specifying items of interest to the committee on disposal, adding that applications must be accompanied with an approved means of identification such as a National Identity card, International Passport or Driver’s Licence, in addition to a recent passport photograph scanned onto the dedicated portal on the website.

  • Customs siezes N187m goods

    Customs siezes N187m goods

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, has seized over 3,465 cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products valued at N15,615,000.

    The unit also seized over 10,000 50kg bags of rice valued at N50,145,000.

    Other items, such as vehicles, new and used textile materials, soaps, wine and sugar, were also seized.

    The Duty paid value of all the items seized, according to the unit, is N187, 103, 700.

    Its Area Controller, Sani Madugu said the unit would leave no stone unturned in the campaign against smuggling.

    He attributed the successes in the past one week to the synergy between his team leaders.

    Madugu described the team leaders as committed officers with impressive antecedents and pedigree, worthy of commendation.

    He promised to bring his experience as Commandant of the Customs College, Ikeja to bear on his job.

    The controller  also promised to develop appropriate templates in line with the change mantra of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd).

    Smugglers would be arrested and prosecuted, he said.

     

  • Customs seizes N1b goods in Imo

    Customs seizes N1b goods in Imo

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’ in Owerri, the Imo State capital, seized over N1 billion worth of goods in six months.

    Its Area Controller, David Dimka said the unit seized 226 contraband with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1, 016,833,292 and arrested 129 suspects between January and last month.

    About 118 cases against smugglers, he said, were pending in the courts.

    Findings revealed that in March, the unit recorded 63 seizures with a DPV of N337,368, 522.

    This, according to Dimka, was the highest seizure by the unit in a month with 25 suspects held.

    He said 37 seizures with a DPV of N176,483,600 were made in January; 40 with DPV of N136,708,650 in February; 37 with DPV of N83,302,620 in April; 42 with DPV of N141,228,100 in May and 47 seizures with DPV of N138, 341,400 last month.

    The items seized included 210 vehicles, furniture and 296 bales of fairly used bags and suitcases worth N456,704,500; N101,805,700; N19,584,000; and N30,143,400.

    Others, according to him, are 3,905 pieces of used tyres worth N53,502,100; 2,126 cartons of imported frozen poultry products worth N30,566,804; 1,731 bags of 50kg rice worth of N35,678,600; beverages and juice worth #72,000.

    Dimka said 2,686 pieces of used footwear estimated at N6,253,800; 37 cartons of foreign soap/detergents with 202 cartons of foreign vegetable oil worth N6,874,020 were seized from smugglers.

    Other goods seized by the unit included electrical and electronics parts, used fridges, compressors and machinery that were used to conceal smuggled items worth N303,391,772.

    The NCS chief attributed the massive seizures in March to a stronger quest for materialism by the suspects.

    The Customs Area Controller also expressed concern over the persistent cases of smuggling despite the stiff penalties for those arrested.

    Dimka appealed to the public for their cooperation and support in the war against smuggling, assuring that the NCS men were better trained and equipped to meet its challenges.

    He praised the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Abdullahi Dikko for his support to men of the NCS, noting that these have strengthened his men’s commitment in the fight against smugglers.

     

  • Second-hand goods, most preferred, says report

    Second-hand goods, most preferred, says report

    Second hand goods are the most pre-ferred, according to a survey by The Nation.

    Our correspondent found that the demand for fairly used items, such as cars, phones, electronics, bags, shoes and cloths is high. It also found that some online stores also sell second hand goods such as cars, phones and electronics, thereby making the business  thriving in the market.

    Iyana Ipaja market and Ikeja in Lagos stock various items and sales, particularly cloths, bags and phones.

    One of the sellers, Mr. Frank Chukwuma, said the turnout of buyers was encouraging “Business is good and the turnout is high, especially in the evenings when people are returning home from work. More people patronise this business because it is affordable, when they don’t have money for the new items, they opt for fairly used,” he said.

    Mrs  Bunmi Kayode sells second hand cloths for women, she said the business is  booming. “Our prices are cheaper than the boutique where one is likely to buy a blouse for N1, 500; the same blouse is N300 here,’’ she added.

    Kehinde Suleiman, who sells London used phones and laptops at the Computer Village in Ikeja, said the reason people buy London used phone was because they trust fairly used phones compared to the new phones from China, which don’t have long life span. We give our customer warranty and ask them to return phones that develop fault after purchase for replacement.”

    Wahab Lawal,  who owns a second hand phone, said he uses second hand phones because they are cheaper and more reliable. “The reason I go for the second hand phones is because of the cost. I don’t have enough money to buy the brand new ones.”

    Also, Henry Ntuka, said he prefers  second hand phones because they are affordable.

    But Miss Tayo has a different reason for going for Tokunbo clothes. Her words: “I just like these second hand clothes not that I can’t afford the new ones, but because I just feel like buying them.”

    For Mrs. Marian Afolabi, it is  affordability: “I buy second hand clothes for my children because it’s cheap and affordable in this way I can buy more for them compared   to the brand new ones,” she said.

    On the risks involved in buying the second hand phones, Ntuka lamented: “The new ones break down anytime; so, it’s all about taking risks. When it’s good, its’ good; if it’s not, that is it.”

  • Importers abandon over N10b goods at Lagos terminal

    Importers abandon over N10b goods at Lagos terminal

    IMPORTERS have abandoned goods worth over N10 billion at the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal (ILT) in Lagos, The Nation has learnt.

    The goods, it was gathered, were moved to the terminal to decongest the Lagos Ports.

    Most of the goods, sources at the Federal Ministry of Finance said, were declared by the officials of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as overtime cargoes.

    No fewer than 7,000 over time cargo (containers), the official alleged, were transferred and abandoned by the NPA and Customs at the ILT in the last three years.

    To move the goods to Ikorodu, the ministry official claimed, NPA spent over N300 million.

    The bulk of the containers were evacuated from the Lagos port complex, Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) and others.

    A senior Customs official, who craved anonymity, said in 2013, over 2,500 containers were declared unclaimed at TICT. Over 4,500 unclaimed containers were moved to Ikorodu in 2012.

    The movement, the official said, was caused by a response to complaints by terminal operators about the choking facilities at their terminals based on the refusal of importers to clear their cargoes months after their arrival in the country.

    The Customs official also alleged that the worth of goods at the ILT may be well over N10 billion, adding that there was nothing wrong if the Buhari administration decided to take an inventory of goods.

    “From all intent and purposes, this government is new and it is an administration that based its campaign on change. So, part of the benefits of the change is for the new government to take stock of all abandoned cargoes in our ports and terminals to prevent unnecessary leakages,” the official said.

    The National President, Association, Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said importers abandon their goods for two main reasons: the ports are the most expensive in West Africa; and the unstable exchange rate.

    Banks, Shittu said, have stopped lending to importers because of the instability of the naira in the last few years and the increase in the prices of goods at local and international markets.

    The National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Mr Wale Adeniyi, did not reply to a text message sent to him before going to press.

     

  • Second hand goods, most preferred, says report

    Second hand goods, most preferred, says report

    Second hand goods are the most pre-ferred, according to a survey by The Nation.

    Our correspondent found that the demand for fairly used items, such as cars, phones, electronics, bags, shoes and cloths is high. It also found that some online stores also sell second hand goods such as cars, phones and electronics, thereby making the business  thriving in the market.

    Iyana Ipaja market and Ikeja in Lagos stock various items and sales, particularly cloths, bags and phones.

    One of the sellers, Mr. Frank Chukwuma, said the turnout of buyers was encouraging “Business is good and the turnout is high, especially in the evenings when people are returning home from work. More people patronise this business because it is affordable, when they don’t have money for the new items, they opt for fairly used,” he said.

    Mrs  Bunmi Kayode sells second hand cloths for women, she said the business is  booming. “Our prices are cheaper than the boutique where one is likely to buy a blouse for N1, 500; the same blouse is N300 here,’’ she added.

    Kehinde Suleiman, who sells London used phones and laptops at the Computer Village in Ikeja, said the reason people buy London used phone was because they trust fairly used phones compared to the new phones from China, which don’t have long life span. We give our customer warranty and ask them to return phones that develop fault after purchase for replacement.”

    Wahab Lawal,  who owns a second hand phone, said he uses second hand phones because they are cheaper and more reliable. “The reason I go for the second hand phones is because of the cost. I don’t have enough money to buy the brand new ones.”

    Also, Henry Ntuka, said he prefers  second hand phones because they are affordable.

    But Miss Tayo has a different reason for going for Tokunbo clothes. Her words: “I just like these second hand clothes not that I can’t afford the new ones, but because I just feel like buying them.”

    For Mrs. Marian Afolabi, it is  affordability: “I buy second hand clothes for my children because it’s cheap and affordable in this way I can buy more for them compared   to the brand new ones,” she said.

    On the risks involved in buying the second hand phones, Ntuka lamented: “The new ones break down anytime; so, it’s all about taking risks. When it’s good, its’ good; if it’s not, that is it.”

  • Customs siezes N294.4m goods in first quarter

    The Federal Operations Unit (F.O.U) of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, lAGOS, has recorded 482 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N294.4 million in the first quarter of the year.

    This is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the unit, Mr Uche Ejesieme.

    According to the statement, 36 suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizures.

    It explained that the seizures made in the period under review, represented 45 per cent increase when compared to seizures made in the corresponding period of 2014.

    A breakdown showed that 8,584 bags of rice with a DPV of N55.7 million were impounded, while 11,647 cartons of frozen poultry products with a DPV of N62.8 million were also intercepted.

    Also, 86 units of assorted fairly-used vehicles valued at N108.5 million were seized.

    The statement noted that other seized goods were: textiles, foot wears, vegetable oil, insecticides, wine, soaps and spaghetti, all with a DPV of N67.2 million.

    “The war against smuggling, no doubt, is a herculean task, because of the natural tendency for smugglers to fight back each time their goods are seized.

    ‘‘However, we have remained undeterred, as we believe that we have a responsibility to secure the nation against influx of prohibited goods.

    “We will not abdicate this responsibility for whatever reason,’’ the statement said.

    The service urged Nigerians to support it through genuine information which could assist in tracking smugglers and their routes.

    “We have institutionalised the concept of Customs Community Relations (CCR), which is meant to provide an enabling environment for operations in our places of assignment … we have incorporated ICT in our anti-smuggling drive and the resultant effect has been phenomenal,’’ it said.

     

  • Customs seizes N105m goods concealed in train

    Customs seizes N105m goods concealed in train

    The Monitoring Team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Idiroko has intercepted a train from Kano, carrying assorted textile and other goods at the Abeokuta Railway Station in Ogun State.

    The team was led by the Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Yahaya Usman Biri.

    Sources told The Nation that the team had been on the trail of the consignment from Kano following a tip off that the items came from unapproved routes to the train station.

    The items evacuated from the two coaches included 27 bales of blanket, 141 long bales of ankara materials, 49 cartons of choc balls, two gallons of vegetable oil, four bags of 40kg parboiled rice, three small sacks of printed textile materials, one carton of bonny cream milk, one sack of detergent and 159 small sacks of textile materials.

    The items have been transferred to the government warehouse in Ikeja.

    The team has begun investigation to establish the source of the consignment.

    The team said it succeeded because of the support of Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi.

    The team had made a similar seizure at Iddo Train Terminus in Lagos with the collaboration of the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ officers.

     

  • SON destroys substandard goods

    Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),last week, destroyed imported fake products worth   over N500 million.

    The substandard products which is 80 per cent electricity cables in nine trucks  were collected from various points at the ports and border stations.

    Speaking at the destruction exercise in Sagamu dumpsite in Ogun state, Head of Inspectorate / Compliance, Mr. Bede Obayi  described the destruction of substandard products as economic loss to the country.

    “We have carried out our tests on the products and failed. We need to evacuate and destroy them completely as they pose dangers to life and ruin the nation’s economy.”

    He explained that the products were burnt in accordance with SON’s procedure which started with market survey, surveillance, inventory, seizure, sampling, laboratory tests and analyses to ascertain conformity to specifications and requirements of Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS).

    He said: “It is disheartening that despite all efforts carried out by the agency to sensitive the citizenry on the negative effects of fake and substandard goods, the merchants continue to engage in the illicit trade.

    Obayi pointed out that the Son is committed to zero tolerance against substandard products, saying that this destruction is to serve notice to unscrupulous importers that SON are not relenting in wiping off substandard products in the country.

    “We are going to intensify our efforts to ensure that these kinds of products do not circulate in the Nigerian markets and importers should desist from the acts because this is not a game they will, “ he said.

    He noted that with the implementation of National Quality Policy (NQP) by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would accelerate the global competitiveness and high rate of acceptability of locally produced goods because they will be certified of meeting the quality and standard requirements in Nigeria.

    He pointed out that the agency would continue to make stringent efforts to showcase Nigerian products at the global arena, saying “we cannot allow fake and substandard goods, mainly imported from overseas to kill the nation’s economic re-vitalisation dream.

    “In 2015, we will surpass our target of reducing the penetration of the substandard products into our country.”

  • Lagos fire: ‘We couldn’t save any of our goods’

    Lagos fire: ‘We couldn’t save any of our goods’

    Traders, who suffered losses in the fire that ravaged athree-storey shopping complex in Ereko, Lagos Island, are still bemoaning their fate – three days after the incident.

    The traders are planning how to return to business.

    It was learnt that the first, second and third floors are managed by Rembak Textiles, a fabrics company.

    The remains of some of the burnt goods littered the building.

    Some traders were yesterday trying to pick pieces of the destroyed items. The shops were locked. None of the traders including those not affected opened shop.

    Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning has invited the caretaker, Kamorudeen Ajagbe-Balogun, for explanation.

    Ajagbe-Balogun said the ministry’s officials came to empathise with the victims and invited him for talks.

    “Although the owner is aware of the incident, after meeting with officials of Urban and Regional Planning Ministry, we shall know what next to do,” he said.

    The owner of Rembak Textiles, Hajia Tawakalitu Oshodi, said she and other occupiers of the building suffered “great loss.”

    According to her, the second and third floors are used as warehouses while the first floor is for shops.

    “We just offloaded one container of different textile materials last Saturday. We couldn’t save any of our goods from the warehouse. Even the little we saved from the shops are wet. We may end up selling it at a lesser price. As I speak, sales are so low. Everything is dull because all the new designs I purchased went with the fire. I thank God no life was lost and it happened at day time because other buildings would have been affected if it happened at night,” Hajia Oshodi said.

    The ever-busy complex looked desolate. Traders on the ground floor were still in shock.

    Oscar Osadebe, one of those on the ground floor, doesn’t know what the future holds for them, especially those not affected.

    “I have been selling cotton materials for over six years and I realised that when situations such as this happens, we don’t know what is next. Since Tuesday, we have not made sales,” Osadebe said.

    Another occupant, Yinka Twins who also trades in textile materials said: “I have been trading in this complex for over 10 years. I am confused. I don’t know if they will demolish the building because I have no place to go and if I should eventually get another place, it may not be a favoured spot. I plead with Officials of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to dispose the charred remains of the fire in front of our complex so we can start business again.”