Kano\Jigawa Customs gives seized items to North-East IDP camps

Kano/Jigawa Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sent 28 trailers containing bags of foreign rice, cartons of spaghetti, gallons of oil, and second-hand clothes seized from smugglers worth millions of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the North-Eastern states.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Mr Yusuf Abba Kassim who disclosed this, said the items were taken to the IDP camp following a directive from the Customs headquarters.

Kassim noted that ''the 'Federal Government has resolved, based on the reactions of Nigerians over the burning of seized food items, that they should be given to displaced persons in IDP camps instead of burning them."

The Area Controller further explained that between the month of July and September this year, the Command seized 37 contraband items which includes foreign rice, spaghetti, gallons of oil, and second-hand clothes valued at N62,677,800.

He pointed out that smugglers usually abandon their vehicles and the contraband items before officers get to them, adding that only few arrests were made, but stressed that those arrested will be taken to court after investigation.

The Customs boss further revealed that with the cooperation of his officers in Kano/Jigawa Command, he has exceeded the third quarter target with a surplus of N846,349,922.34.

Said he: "The target given to  my Command was N2,512,419,037.60 while the revenue we generated between July and September was N3,358,768,922.34k. Since I came to this Command, I have been exceeding my target by the grace of God."