The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted a 20ft container of “READY TO EAT FOODS’’ like egusi soup, jollof rice, ogbono, yam porridge imported from India.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Bashar Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Uche Ejesieme.
Mr. Yusuf spoke with stakeholders at the SDV/SCOA Terminal while handing over the container of imported prepared foods to officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
The comptroller described the scenario as an “aberration”, considering the fact that government granted zero duty for the importation of machinery for the packaging of agricultural products.
“Why should indigenous menu be imported into the country at a time when investors are much sought after to boost local industries,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Yusuf as saying.
The controller said the command generated N25.7 billion in November, up from N25.3 billion recorded in October.
Mr. Yusuf said that the higher revenue was recorded in spite of the recession and low imports.
He said that the command would continue to explore all avenues for maximum revenue collection.
According to him, this is in view of the exigencies of the moment, which placed more responsibilities on the service.
Mr. Yusuf urged potential investors to take advantage of the numerous export potential in the country for their socio-economic benefits.
In a related development, while briefing a group of senior officers undergoing training in the command, the controller admonished them to make professionalism, integrity and transparency as their watchword.
He also urged the officers to ensure effective leadership and supervision in carrying out their duties.
Mr. Yusuf said the various trade facilitation tools as provided in the automation of Customs procedures would guide the officers in the discharge of their functions.
The comptroller told the officers to see training and re-training as a veritable tools that would sharpen their knowledge toward achieving desired results.
He appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, for effectively re-positioning the service in spite of global recession.
“NCS is still working tirelessly to remain on top of its statutory mandate,’’ he said.
Mr. Yusuf said that this could not have been possible if not for the pragmatic leadership of the comptroller-general and his management.
“In this era and dispensation, officers are expected to be above board with deep sense of commitment and responsibility in the discharge of their functions.
“The Change ideology of the comptroller -general must be given priority attention,” he said.
He, however, warned that anybody that fails to key into the new order would be seriously sanctioned.
Since d prices of ingredients to prepare meals in nigeria hv skyrocketed because of buhari's outdated nd analogue style of leadership nd approach to national issues,is it not better ti start importing already cooked meals from oda nations since we also import match sticks,toothpicks nd even grasses
ReplyDeletewhy ban what you dont produce. I guess its a calculative attempt to suffer a section of the country . the truth still remains Nigeria is mocking herself. This is the level hunger has reduced people to
ReplyDeleteWhere are the pictures of the intercepted food. All these amateur journalism in Nigeria. If the agency wants the public to know about the food they should have called press conference.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmmmm dia is god ooooo. I dey laugh ooooooo. Kai which kind wahala be this? Egusi ogbono pounded yam okra soup all our local food imported from India? Nothing wey man no go see for naija.
ReplyDeleteIf you can find Ogbono from.the list of these foods then you should be able to know the brain behind this rubbish. Indians don't eat Ogbono and Yam
ReplyDeleteDon't you know that many Indian importers living in Nigeria have more power in Our country more than many Nigerian because of their money ? They can target some regions with some of the products they consume mostly
DeleteFunny people claiming 'overstanding'.
ReplyDeleteImported and or manufactured in India does not mean it was manufactured by Indians.
Be minded many Nigerians have restaurants and other SMEs in India. Because Indians are not familiar with Nigerian delicacies don't mean the imports are poisoned.
I wonder how can such kind of African food be imported from another continent Asia? That means Nigerians is in trouble,one day those people will just inport poison to Nigeria and kill every body...
ReplyDeletePersonally am very dubious with those canned-foods being imported to Nigeria.Why?.Because those types of food stuffs are not grown in India,so how come those foods are coming to Nigeria??.
ReplyDeleteSomething is fishy, there must be a thorough examination of the entire container and the foods in it. There is a possibility of poison, hard drugs or being used to smuggle in weapons. The Importer also must be querried. May God continue to protect all Nigerians. Amin
ReplyDeleteSimple economics tells me that if it is cheaper to produce in India, then it makes sense to import. Govt must do something about food prices in Nigeria
ReplyDeletethis is buhari govt tactics of keeping poor masses busy every week .or maybe that's how dullard of duara intends to fulfill his promise of feeding school kids daily.. lol #govt sponsored lies and propaganda# APC the govt of lies by professional liars
ReplyDeleteHas Nigeria become so bad that we have started importing our own local food's? God knows what next we will import maybe banga soup. Since cooked and packaged rice is now imported maybe after cooking it for months.
ReplyDelete