‘FG Not Hanging On To Impounded Rice’ Shuaibu

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu has dismissed concerns that seized rice and other edible items are being allowed to lie waste while many poor Nigerians are hungry because they are unable to afford essential food items like rice.

Pinnacle Time report that while the NCS seize an average 5000 bags of rice every month flowing from either violation of import processes or as a consequence of direct   smuggling, Comptroller Shuiabu fielding questions from journalists on Tuesday at the FOU Zone A Government Warehouse Ikeja Lagos, explained that the current administration of President Ahmed Tinubu abhors economic waste, and has been systematically involved in the disposal and distribution of seized food items, particularly rice.

Shuaibu further explained that the approach is always a reflection of what government deems to be proper, especially in view of necessary safeguards to prevent any untoward development leading to stampede, injury and death following the ugly experiences of the past.

“An attempt to speak on the history of rice in my warehouse and how we have been disposing of them will take us the whole day. As they come in…because the federal government doesn’t like economic waste, there are ways and manners they are disposed off, either through IDPs and probably other ways the authorities deem fit.

“On how these rice gets to the public, you could remember there was a time the rice were re-bagged into 25kg sizes for direct disposal to citizens … it wasn’t easy and so government is constantly seeking for a better approach to doing this thing.”

On how to curtail constant inward inflow of seizures, Shuaibu said it depends on the dynamics of the moment since violators tactics in smuggling keeps changing, noting however that the Service is vigorously pushing a one-shop-stop intervention strategy to limit seizures to the points of entry; which is however is as fluid as an academic theory and cannot be wholly depended upon due to erratic nature of smuggling that explores multi-prong approach.

“We have in place one-stop-shop approach to enforcement and intervention, which is to identify questionable imports and stop them at the entry points, land border, seaport or airport. But of course where these questionable items finds their way out, the federal operations unit as an additional layer of checks will always be here to tidy up the noose”, he said.

Shuaibu while addressing newsmen on its September 2025 activities, said the Unit has sustained crackdown against economy saboteurs  even as he expressed the unit’s continued commitment to fighting smuggling, saying that the Federal Operations Unit Zone A remained firm and focused on safeguarding the nation’s borders, protecting the economy, and combating all forms of illicit activities, through intelligence-driven strategies.

The overall objective he said is aimed at curbing illicit goods trafficking, safeguarding revenue, and protecting consumers from hazardous and counterfeit products.

For the period under review, 1st September to 7th October 2025, Shuaibu said the unit recorded 125 interceptions within a six-week period, which includes the following:

1. 5,015 bags of 50kg foreign rice (equivalent to 8 trailer loads)
2. 15 used (Tokunbo) vehicles
3. 640 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, weighing approximately 431.8kg
4. 460 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (about 11,500 litres)
5. 143 bales of used clothing, 2 jumbo sacks of used shoes, and 1 sack of used clothing
6. 390 bottles of Codeine, 310 foreign-branded drugs, and 19 cards of Tramadol
7. 210 pieces of used tyres
8. One 20-foot container (ONEU 2419369 FTC) containing 752 cartons of Calcium Lactate, intercepted “for false declaration”

He said the seizures were largely from Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, and the Lagos axis of the South West region, adding that four suspects were arrested in connection with the operations; which were later handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

According to the anti-smuggling czar, while a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1,188,830,600.00 was recorded during the period, a total of ₦39,269,688.71 was recovered through the issuance of demand notices in lieu of under declarations and under-valuations.

The highlight of the briefing was the handing over of the seized Cannabis Sativa and pharmaceuticals the representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), respectively.

In addition, the Unit Public Relations Officer, CSC Hussaini Abdullahi in the accompanying release quoted his boss saying:

“The Federal Operations Unit Zone A remains unwavering in its commitment to combating smuggling and safeguarding Nigeria’s economy through sustained intelligence-led operations and the strategic deployment of advanced surveillance technologies.

“The unit would continue to secure Nigeria’s borders, protect national revenue, and contribute to the country’s economic growth.”