CUSTOMS RELEASES SIX TRUCKLOADS OF GRAINS TO OWNERS IN KATSINA 14-03-24
By Sadiq Aminu Six truckloads of grains intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service along Katsina-Niger Republic border at Kongolam in Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina State have been returned to the owners.
This is in line with Presidential directives as earlier announced by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, during an interaction with members of Kongolam border community over the weekend.
While handing over the six trucks loaded with grains at the Customs office in Katsina, the Katsina State Customs Area Comptroller, Muhammad Umar, noted that the grains were released to the owners on condition that they would be sold within Nigerian markets only.
He said Customs officials impounded the goods to enforce an Exports Prohibition Act that restricts food importation due to the national food scarcity and inflation currently witnessed in the country.
Comptroller Umar tasked the owners of the grains to be patriotic and abide by the regulation for the sale of the food items within Nigeria as a way of complementing ongoing efforts to ensure food security.
He noted that the released trucks will be closely monitored by the Katsina Customs Area Command in collaboration with the Customs Intelligence Unit, Federal Operations Unit and the Joint Border Patrol Team, to ensure that the grains are not smuggled out of the country.
The Katsina Area Comptroller also pleaded to members of the public to provide information that would assist in curtailing the smuggling of food items and contraband goods out of the country.
He maintained that the service is committed to fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration with the border communities to facilitate lawful trade, security, and prosperity within the communities.
In his remarks at the handing over event, the Chairman Katsina State Taskforce on Food Security, Jabiru Tsauri, warned smugglers and owners of the released trucks to adhere strictly to the presidential directive by selling the grains only in Nigerians markets.