By Priscilla Campbell,
Minna
The Nigeria Customs Service Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command has intercepted another Dangote truck load of rice worth N11, 900, 000 along Minna-Lambata-Suleja axis of the command.
The truck loaded with 700 bags of rice and with registration number XA 297 NAK was seized by the Anti-Smuggling Patrol Team of the command.
It will be recalled that recently, a similar seizure of Dangote truck with Reg. No. DAL 769 XA DSR-1B-019 carrying 520 bags of 50kg rice worth N8, 840, 000 was made.
The rice was concealed with 50kg bags of sugar along Mikes axis of Niger State.
The commands’ Public Relations Officer, Bo Lomba, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Abba-Kassim Yusuf, said, “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.”
The Customs Area Controller revealed that his officers and men were totally committed and with the renewed strategy and proactive measures put in place in discovering new tactics of smugglers was yielding positive results.
“The Command is 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 to our teaming youth,” he said.
Yusuf also appealed to the public to always embrace legitimate means of livelihood and to avoid smuggling in all its ramifications.
According to him, “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.”
