The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/ Kogi/Kwara command, on Thursday, revealed that it has intercepted a Dangote truck loaded with seven hundred bags of smuggled rice.
The command made this disclosure via a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Benjamin Lomba.
Lomba, in the statement made available to DAILY POST, added that the command’s patrol team around Minna-Lambata-Suleja axis seized the Dangote truck, with registration number, XA 297 NAK, transporting seven hundred (700) bags of rice worth eleven million, nine hundred thousand naira (N11,900,000).
He recalled that few months ago, a similar seizure of Dangote truck with Reg. No. DAL 769 XA DSR-1B-019 conveying five hundred and twenty (520) bags of 50kg Rice worth eight million, eight hundred and forty thousand Naira (N8, 840,000) concealed with fifty (50) bags of sugar worth six hundred and ninety seven thousand Naira (N 697,000) was intercepted along Mokwa axis of the Command.
Lomba, while insisting that the command would continue to wage war against smuggling of prohibited items, appealed to Nigerians on behalf of the command’s Controller, Controller Yusuf Abba-Kassim, to always embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications.
He said, “Despite campaign against Rice smuggling into the country, the Anti-smuggling Command Patrol Team around Minna-Lambata-Suleja axis of the Command, yet Seized another Dangote truck with registration number XA 297 -NAK transporting seven hundred (700) bags of rice worth eleven million nine hundred thousand Naira (N 11,900,000).
“It will be recalled that few months ago; a similar seizure of DANGOTE Truck with Reg. No. DAL 769 XA DSR-1B-019 conveying Five Hundred and twenty (520) Bags of 50kg Rice worth Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N8, 840,000) concealed with Fifty (50) Bags of Sugar worth Six Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand Naira (N 697,000) was intercepted along Mokwa axis of the Command.
“It is worrisome that some Nigerians remain unrepentant even as they continue to lose their goods, not even the Federal Government’s visible efforts in transforming the Agricultural sector; especially in the area of rice production has touched their conscience to avoid smuggling of rice
“The Customs Area Controller revealed that his officers and men are totally committed and with the renewed strategy and proactive measures put in place in discovering new tactics of smugglers is yielding positive results.
“In his word, the Command is set to key into Federal Government policies and the Next Level Agenda to encourage Home-Grown Rice which will go a long way in creating employment opportunity to our teaming youth.
“To this end, the CAC appealed to the general public to always embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications.
“The eagle eye is all around Niger/Kogi Command to uncover and suppress the smuggling to the barest minimum in the interest of the economic prosperity and national development.”
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