The Nigerian Customs Service has expressed dismay over the non-compliance of obtaining vehicle licenses and warns States and Federal Government Agencies to desist from buying vehicles without Customs duty.
Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, DCG Jack Ocheme Okpabi, who doubles as the Coordinator of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Headquarters, stated this while addressing newsmen on the Headquarters’ quarterly achievements.
DCG J.O Okpabi who charged members of the public to be wary of buying vehicles haphazardly, lamented how some stakeholders take part in sabotaging government policies.
“It is on this note, I want to emphasize that the Service will not hesitate to bring to any offender caught entering Nigeria without warrant to book, and they will be charged with smuggling offences even if they’re customs officers. This matter is decisive to us and will not be taken lightly.”
According to him, Section 11 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 does not favour any private, government-owned institution or individual to import a vehicle without license into Nigeria.
He argued that the recent operation on some unpatriotic Car Dealers importing vehicles without Customs Duty will yield over N400m on just two Hilux Trucks 2023 Models.
“Basically, we organise this press briefing quarterly to enlighten the public about the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service and this is for the second quarter”.
“You can see that we have over 100 vehicles and 38 out of them were handed-over to the Federal *did you mean Federal Government?* and the Service has also succeeded in apprehending 2 Hilux 2023 Models, and the government is going to recover nearly N400m out of the vehicles”. DCG Akpabi said.
While commending the collective efforts by the operatives of various Security Agencies to the Nigeria Customs Service, the DCG also threatened that perpetrators will face the total wrath of law, adding that “people who fail to pay their customs duty must hurry to do so.”
