Senate Condemns Nigeria Customs’ Non-auction Of Seized Goods

-Senate sets up panel to investigate allegations against Nigeria Customs of hoarding seized goods.

Senate to investigate Nigeria Customs.

The Senate has set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate allegation of wastage of seized goods against the Nigeria Customs.

Mohammed Hassan, representing Yobe-PDP, said in a motion on Wednesday that he was informed about the Nigerian Customs Service’ habit of hoarding seized perishable goods of “high economic value” in some states.

According to Hassan, the Nigeria Customs’ warehouses in Kano, Kastina, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Western Marine Lagos, Eastern Marine Port Harcourt and Zone C Federal operations Owerri and Port Harcourt are currently filled with seized perishable goods, “rotting away at great cost to the economy.”

Hassan said, “The Senate notes with dismay that these items which ought to have been kept for only for a short interval are now being kept for so long in the Custom’s warehouses, amounting to large economic waste.

“The Senate notes that prior to now, these goods when seized are auctioned off by the customs to the general public.

“However, these auctions are rarely done in recent times and these reports show that the custom warehouses are brimming with spoiled or almost spoiled goods while people are dying of hunger.”

Hassan condemned the wasteful acts and called on Nigeria Customs to auction the items for the country’s economic gain.

The Senate therefore, resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter.