Steve Agbota
The Anti-smuggling Command Patrol team, of Niger/Kogi Command of Nigeria Customs Service said it intercepted a Dangote truck around Minna-Lambata-Suleja axis for transporting 700 bags of 50kg rice worth N11.900 million smuggled into the country.
In a statement obtained by Daily Sun and issued by the Command Public Relations Officer, Bo Lomba said that the Dangote truck with registration number XA297NAK was arrested on Monday morning barely a few months ago when a similar seizure of Dangote truck with registration number DAL769XA DSR-1B-019 conveying bags of 50kg Rice worth N8.840 million concealed with 50 bags of sugar worth N697,000 was intercepted along Mokwa axis of the command.
According to the statement, 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
However, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abba-Kasim Yusuf revealed that his officers and men were totally committed and that the renewed strategy and proactive measures put in place in discovering new tactics of smugglers was yielding positive results.
He hinted that the command was 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 for our teaming youth.
To this end, the CAC appealed to the public to always embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications.
He disclosed that 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.