NAN-HE-9
Interception
By Aisha Cole and Uche Eletuo
Lagos, June 14, 2017 (NAN) The Apapa Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted seven containers of pharmaceutical products over alleged false declaration.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Musa Jibrin, said this while displaying the containers at the APM Terminals Apapa, Lagos on Wednesday.
He said that the containers originated from China, adding that the importer’s documents reflected Cimetidine drug.
Jibrin noted that Customs’ examination revealed that the containers contained different pharmaceutical products.
“Officers were able to discover the different pharmaceutical products as a result of 100 per cent examination carried out by officers of the command.
“The intercepted drugs are not with the National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) numbers,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the drugs in the containers were Newdol, Ivixagrip, really Extral, among others.
Jibrin said that the interception was successful due to the collaboration and interface relationship between the Customs and other sister agencies.
He urged stakeholders to always engage in honest declaration for Nigeria to meet up with international standards.
In his response, an Assistant Director of NAFDAC, Mr Oluyemi Ogunrinde, commended the efforts of the NCS and pleaded for more robust collaboration for Nigeria to be the preferred destination for cargoes.
“NAFDAC will carry out further investigation on the consignment and we will get back to Customs with our findings,’’ Ogunrinde said.
In a related development, the Apapa Customs Command generated N136.3 billion in the last five months of 2017, up from N98.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016.
According to the controller, the revenue generated between January and May 2017 reflected 38.78 per cent increase over what was generated in the corresponding period of 2016.
“The command surpassed its revenue target for May due to proactive measures put in place, diligence and commitment of officers.
“I made it clear during my assumption of office that value addition must be a propelling force for me and my management team.
“This implies that we all must be committed to add value that will leave the command progressively better each day.
“The command will continue to intensify efforts toward blocking all revenue leakages in order to sustain and build on the result.
“The command’s Enforcement Unit effected a total of 24 detentions, including containers of different items such as frozen fish, medicaments, pharmaceuticals among other general goods,’’ Jibrin said.
The controller said that the command also intercepted and detained some export containers of scraped metals and unprocessed woods.
Jibrin said that the intercepted goods fell under Prohibition and Extant Law, adding that investigation was ongoing.
He said that the relevant sections would be applied in line with the extant law.
Jibrin urged exporters of Made-In-Nigeria products and other raw materials to come to the command for their export business.
The Customs boss assured exporters of maximum cooperation and optimum trade facilitation and documentation procedures.
He said that command was working in line with the Federal Government’s directive on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, which had created a functional Customs Examination Centre at the APM Terminals.
Jibrin said that the command had keyed into the Information Computer Technology (ICT) project.
He said the command also engaged in meetings with other regulatory agencies to reduce human contact in the cargo clearance process.
The customs boss said that the command would continue to engage stakeholders on import and export business to improve compliance with government’s fiscal policies.
Jibrin also said that the command organised in-house training and retraining programmes for officers. (NAN)
AIC/EUC/AJA/OJO
==============
(Edited by Adeleye Ajayi/Mufutau Ojo))