The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasir Ahmed

  • Kano/Jigawa customs impounds N100m foreign rice

    The Kano/Jigawa Customs Command on Saturday in Kano impounded over 3,000n bags of foreign rice and some assorted contraband, valued at over N100 million.

    Briefing reporters at the Command’s headquarters in Bompai, Kano, the Comptroller Nasir Ahmed, said the goods were intercepted at various border towns within Jigawa axis.

    He attributed the success; so far achieved to the collaboration, with the Customs Intelligent Unit (CIU), the headquarters, Information Patrol Team (IPT), strike force, Federal operations and other relevant units of the service, because we are not competing among ourselves, but rather working together to stop smuggling.

    Ahmed warned that ”We want to tell the smugglers to have a rethink and look the other way for a new business, as 2019 would be no smuggling year for their nefarious activities.

    Also, he urged the youths against availing themselves to be used as agents, of conveying contraband goods into the country, adding that in most cases, the youth engaged in the act, unaware of the contents in the parcel.

    He however, warned the youths to desist from such businesses, which has led to the rise of drug abuse, as well as the proliferation of illegal arms in the country, advising that agriculture should rather be embraced and encouraged, among the youth.

    ”We must do everything possible to save our country, as I do not want to run to Niger, neither can Niger contains Nigerians.”

    While disclosing that the Command has impounded not less than 33 vehicles since January this year, used for smuggling foreign rice, he added that other assorted vehicles intercepted by the Command, are awaiting the owners to come forward and tender their relevant documents.

    According to him, the Command was able to generate N14.7 billion as revenue, adding that, out of 256 seizures made in 2018,over 18,816 bags of foreign rice was impounded, with a Duty paid value,(DPV),of N636,689,397.00K was collected.

     

  • Customs impounds rice worth N100m

    The Kano/Jigawa Customs Command on Tuesday in Kano impounded over 3,000n bags of foreign rice and some assorted contraband, valued at over N100 million.

    Briefing reporters at the Command’s headquarters in Bompai, Kano, on Tuesday, the Comptroller Nasir Ahmed, said the goods were intercepted at various border towns within Jigawa axis.

    He attributed the success, so far achieved to the collaboration, with the Customs Intelligent Unit (CIU), the headquarters, Information Patrol Team (IPT), strike force, Federal operations and other relevant units of the service, because we are not competing among ourselves, but rather working together to stop smuggling.

    Ahmed warned that :” We want to tell the smugglers to have a rethink and look the other way for a new business, as 2019 would be no smuggling year for their nefarious activities.

    Also, he urged the youths against availing themselves to be used as agents, of conveying contraband goods into the country, adding that in most cases, the youth engaged in the act, unaware of the contents in the parcel.

    He, however, warned the youths to desist from such businesses, which has led to the rise of drug abuse, as well as the proliferation of illegal arms in the country, advising that agriculture should rather be embraced and encouraged, among the youth.

    Read Also: Customs records 4,010 seizures in 11 months

    ”We must do everything possible to save our country, as I do not want to run to Niger, neither can Niger contain Nigerians.”

    While disclosing that the Command has impounded not less than 33 vehicles since January this year, used for smuggling foreign rice, he added that other assorted vehicles intercepted by the Command, are awaiting the owners to come forward and tender their relevant documents.

    According to him, the Command was able to generate N14.7 billion as revenue out of 56 seizures made.

  • Kano/Jigawa Customs impound N76m contraband goods

    Smugglers have now devised a new method by using cows to smuggle contraband foreign rice into the country through porous borders as Kano/Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Customs on Monday paraded two cows, 27 vehicles, nine motor cycles and one tricycle used in smuggling various types of contraband consignments worth over N76 million.

    According to the Comptroller of Kano/Jigawa Customs Command, Nasir Ahmed, who briefed Reporters at the Kano headquarters, he said the Command between November 1 and 26, impounded 3079 of rice, 770 cartons of spaghetti, 17 bales of second hand clothes, 40 bags of foreign sugar and 101 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil with duty paid value of N76 million.

    Ahmed said one suspect was arrested, adding that youths in the border town of Babura in Jigawa state have now indulged in using motorcycles to aide smugglers to ferry their smuggled goods through the bush paths.

    He, however, appealed to parents and traditional rulers in the community to warn their wards to desist from aiding and abating smuggling activities, adding that, “anyone caught by the anti-smuggling squad of the Customs risk being arrested and prosecuted.”

     He added that, “today we are here to show you the number of seizures we have made from the November 1 to November 26. This is made in consonance with the fact that the basic things we are supposed to do as Customs officers is to stop smuggling, we are here to facilitate trade and generate revenue.

    “These seizures are made possible with the assistant of the communities, the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), my officers on the patrol and the realization that we don’t have another country rather than Nigeria.

    “The only way we can do this is to stop smuggling of rice because a nation that is not sufficient in food cannot be said to be a nation. This is President Muhammadu Buhari is talking on food security. We cannot have food security when we want to engage in smuggling.

    “We tell the smugglers to try another business because we are here. We are not going away. We are not slowing down for them, we will always get them. Like I said before, we are not going to back down.”

  • Customs impound over N8.8m prohibited items in Kano

    The Kano/Jigawa Nigerian Customs Command has impounded smuggled foreign rice and other contraband goods valued at over N8.8m in Kano.

    The Command’s Comptroller of the service Nasir Ahmed disclosed this to reporters on Tuesday, while displaying the seized items at his headquarters in Bompai Kano.

    Ahmad said his anti smuggling squad intercepted the foreign rice and consignment of second-hand clothes at different locations within its operational jurisdiction of the command,within five days, during the just concluded Sallah break.

    He expressed disgust over the nefarious activities of smuggling of rice and other contraband goods into Kano, adding that, alarming rate of this saboteurs has continued to crippled economic activities in the commercial city.

    Read Also: Customs seizes N10b pangolin scales

    According to him,“It is unfortunate that activities of smugglers have crippled businesses in Kano. Smuggling of rice and drugs has destroyed our local businesses and unless we address the trend, we will continue to destroy ourselves.

    “The NCS will continue to do its best to stop smuggling of rice and other contraband goods into Kano. Once, we stop illegal importation of rice into Kano,

    “We are not here to cripple lawful businesses. Rather to discourage illegal businesses. We will visit any warehouse where foreign rice and other contraband goods are kept, evacuate the goods, arrest the owner of the warehouse and prosecute him.

    Ahmad urged traders in the two states to desist from any form of smuggling, affirming the service would not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anybody found engaging in such unwholesome activities.