Comtroller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone , Comptroller kola Oladeji has said that the stoppage of containers on the road by his officers is to forestall the possibility of diversion of containers from the Bonded Terminals to Their owners without payment of import duties.
Compt. Oladeji stated thus when he met with members of the League of Maritime Editors ( Lome) who paid him a courtesy call in his office. .
He said that his officers always act on ” Intelligence Reports”, adding that it is not all containers that are stopped. He said also that their activities are not to checkmate what their colleagues at the ports have done.
He identified wrong and false declaration as some of the tricks used by importers to defraud government of appropriate revenue..
He said that it has been discovered that some containerized goods which were declared as ” agricultural products” but that when subjected to 100% inspection, were made of Chinese clothing materials.
He said generally that smuggling activities have declined.
He commended the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr Adewale Bashir Adeniyi( MFR) for using the appropriate tools to tackle the problem of smuggling in the country. ,adding that the CGC is putting the right pegs in the right holes.
He also noted that the establishment of the Whirlwind Task Force Team” has contributed immensely in curbing illegal exportation of petroleum products out of the country.
He said that since the Comptroller General came on board, , all aspects of the Service are being taken care of , including the welfare of Officers and men.
He commended the Comptroller General for the robust welfare of officers adding that due to his dedication to duty, “If you call him even at 2 am, he will pick his call.
Compt. Oladeji said that he has warned his officers not to kill anybody because of one bag of rice, adding that such quantity is not worth taking anyone’s life.
On the area of Customs – Community relations, he promised that hence forth, there will be no more ‘accidental discharge ‘ from his officers.
Speaking earlier, Chief Timothy Okorocha, League’s President intimated the Controller about the activities of the Association, especially the forthcoming Annual General Meeting(AGM) holding in Lagos.