Imported rice seized unhealthy – Customs

Nigerian Customs Service Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A said Thursday that some of the imported rice was unhealthy for human consumption.

The unit’s acting controller, Hussein Ejibunu, said during a press conference in Lagos that this was discovered after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) carried out a test. lab on some seized rice.

“In compliance with the Federal Government’s policy that encourages local rice production against the import of foreign parboiled rice, this Unit seized 7,259 50-kg bags of rice, equivalent to more than twelve (12) loaded trucks.

“Sequel to a laboratory test analysis on some foreign parboiled rice previously seized by NAFDAC, one of the test parameters indicated some content of lead (a malleable, toxic, heavy and soft metallic element) in the rice tested.

“This is making the rice unfit for human consumption,” he said.

He said accordingly, on the laboratory analysis, as the responsible government agency, “we are informing Nigerians that, in addition to the negative economic impact of importing foreign rice, some of these rices are not healthy for human consumption.”

Therefore, he advised consumers to desist from patronizing foreign parboiled rice banned by the Federal Government.

“We as citizens have a collective responsibility to safeguard our economy and health for the benefit of all,” he said.

Ejibunu listed some items seized in the month of April as: 55,800 liters of gasoline, 73 bales of used clothing, 82 used refrigerator units, 104 compressor parts, 143 bales of new textiles.

Others are: 1,264 pieces of used tires, 156 boxes of frozen poultry products, 7,960 pairs of new shoes, 240 pieces of purse, 93 boxes of canned tomatoes, 2 units of used foreign vehicles, and 11 pieces of used carpet.

It added that the seized items had a cumulative value of taxes paid (DPV) of N533,169,520.

He said a total of 12 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures; for committing various customs offenses.

He said that after a series of diligent documentary checks on some initially authorized shipments, demand notices rose to N111,825,873.75 which was ultimately collected as revenue for the government.

“Apart from the policies of the Federal Government towards the protection of its local economy against foreign competitors, the government in its wisdom prohibits goods such as: used clothing, used and used tires among others.

“This is due to its concomitant effects on safety, health and the economy. Therefore, Nigerians are urged to familiarize themselves with the import prohibition list for compliance and cooperate with the Service to safeguard our country.

“We thank our esteemed achievers as we assure them of our commitment to facilitating their genuine business.

“We urge recalcitrant merchants to turn the page and embrace legitimate commerce, or face the consequences of their actions.

“As a unit, we are best mobilized by the Service, organized and determined with very high morale to do our job without fear or favoritism,” he said.