In other to safeguard Nigeria’s economic interest, protect public health, support domestic productions and ensure compliance to the country’s import laws, the Port Harcourt Area 2 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in Onne Port, Rivers State has interpreted 56 containers of prohibited items worth about N5.53 Billion Naira.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in a media briefing in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State said that the interception was made through renewed intelligence driven and risk assessment based enforcement operations aimed at preventing prohibited, restricted and improperly declared consignments from entry the country.
He said with this seizure, the economic impact would be significantly felt in the agricultural and manufacturing sector because it will promote local industry, food security and create jobs as well as diversify the economy.
The Comptroller General commended Comptroller Aliyu M.Alkali and his Team for the great achievement, saying that, the Service remains committed to strengthening border security, protecting Nigeria’s economy and supporting legitimate trade in line with the broader economic objectives of the Federal government.
In the same vein, the Customs Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi also commissioned the Ebubu Primary Health Center, Eleme in Rivers state under the Nigeria Customs Service under the Customs Care Initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony, the CG said that the Customs Care Initiative enables the service to build stronger relationship with communities to demonstrate that public institutions can be responsible partners in community development and also represents an important role in the transformation of Nigeria Customs Service into a modern professional and people oriented institution.
In his words, “the Nigeria Customs Service considered rehabilitation of Ebubu Health Centre a worthy investment in the health sector and wellbeing of the community. We have invested in the hope of the people.”
He called on the beneficiaries and the people of Ebubu community to take ownership of the project and protect it as their own and to maintain it for the benefit of all to the glory of God and humanity.
Also Speaking, the Port Harcourt Area 2 Customs Command, Comptroller Aliyu M. Alkali said that the Ebubu Primary Health Centre was very significant as the facility is expected to provide accessible basic healthcare services to residents, particularly pregnant women, children, elderly and other vulnerable members of the community, pointing out that, the Nigeria Customs has helped to reduce the burden of travelling long distances to access primary healthcare services for the early treatment of common ailments, promote maternal and child immunization and other essential services.
By Jolly Adjevwe.
