Kebbi Customs Hands Over Seized Donkey Meat, Skins To NAQS, Generates N9.25 Million In May
From Ayoedele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi
The Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command had on Wednesday handed over the donkey meat and skins seized from smugglers last month to the National Agricultural Quarantee Services (NAQS), just as the Command declared N98.25 million as revenue generated in the month of May.
Comptroller of Customs, Dr. Ben Oramalugbo disclosed while handing over the seized donkey meat and skins to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) in the spirit of interagency collaboration.
The items were four hundred and fourteen (414) sacks of donkey meat and skins which were seized at Maje border, and Kamba axis in May.
The Customs boss stated that the amount represents 111 per cent of the Command’s monthly revenue target, adding that, Customs are empowered to detain, seize and condemn any item on several grounds as enshrined in Section 167 of CEMA Cap C45 LFN 2004, if they are smuggled into the country or imported without payment of duty, irrespective of whether the items are allowed to be imported or outright contraband.
“Same is also applicable to the items intercepted by customs about to be smuggled out of the country. Section 63 of CEMA is unequivocal about exportation of items without following the lay down procedure of approved exports policy.”
“If the exporters knew they were doing the right thing, why didn’t they follow the approved route and observe Customs export procedure to disabuse some people’s mind who think they’re doing a legitimate business, pointing out that that the Convention on International Trade in endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is an international agreement between governments, frowns at illegal trade of endangered species which threaten the survival of the species and Nigeria is Signatory to the agreement.
He added that, decree 11 of 1985 signified Nigeria ratification of the convention and as for the skins, Schedule 6 of export prohibition list includes raw hide/Skin including wet blue and unprocessed leather as prohibited for export under serial No 3. And in the same vein, Serial No 7 also mentioned wild life animal classified as endangered species and their product.
In his remarks, the Assistant Comptroller General of NAQS in charge of North West Zone, Adamu Isah Gano who took over the items for further necessary action, while appreciating the Command, also noted that international trade on such animals declared as endangered species is strictly regulated, adding that a trader must possess CITES certificate, certificate of exportation or importation as the case may be by the country’s environmental authority.
“Anitary/hygienic certifications and eventually, a professional comes into play, which in this case is the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), who offers permit to either import or export such animals.”
The NAQS boss explained that in the case of donkeys, the slaughter of donkeys for their products are strictly prohibited by the extant law of Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services and therefore appreciated Nigeria Customs Service for its laudable interventions to stop the illicit trade.
