Customs impound container of jollof, egusi, yam porridge from India

The Tin-Can Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded a 20ft container containing ready-to-eat foods like Egusi soup, Jollof rice, Ogbono, yam porridge and so on imported into the country from India. This is even as the command disclosed that it generated N25,609,863,927.15 as revenue for the month of November, 2016.

According to a statement signed on Monday by the spokesman of the command, Uche Ejesieme, this was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Bashar Yusuf during a session with some critical stakeholders in his office recently.

Addressing stakeholders at the premises of SDV/SCOA where he had gone to handover a 1 by 20ft container of “READY TO EAT FOOD” preparations like egusi soup, jollof rice, ogbono, yam porridge from India, the controller described the scenario as an aberration considering the fact that the Federal Government of Nigeria in its wisdom granted zero duty for the importation of machinery for the packaging of agricultural products into the country.

The controller wondered why an indigenous menu would be imported into the country at a time when investors are much sought to boost local industries.

Speaking further, the controller charged would be investors to look at the export potentials which abound in the country and take advantage of same for their socio-economic benefits.

In a related development, while briefing a group of senior officers undergoing training programme in the command, the controller admonished them to see professionalism, integrity and transparency as their watchword, while also ensuring effective leadership and supervision in their areas of official duty.

The CAC stated categorically that the various trade facilitation tools as provided in the automation of Customs procedures will guide them in the discharge of their functions and charged them to see training and re-training as a veritable tool that will sharpen their skills towards achieving desired results.