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Customs FOU Zone ‘B’ Seizes Contraband Goods Worth N351.5m in Two Months

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Customs displaying the contraband

 

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, said it has succeeded in seizing 161 various contraband goods with duty paid value of N351,508,658.56 million from November to December 2022.

Recall that the FOU Zone ‘B’ comprises 10 states within the Northwest and North Central geopolitical zones with Kaduna as its administrative headquarters.

The Customs Comptroller of the Unit, Al-Bashir Hamisu, who made this known in Kaduna on Tuesday, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman said the Unit has seized: 2,114 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50Kg each), 126 Bales & Sacks of Foreign Second Hand Clothing, 72 Sacks of Cannabis Sativa, 65x25Kg Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice, 818 Cartons of Foreign Spaghetti, Macaroni & Couscous, 8 Vehicles, 102 Cartons of Foreign Carotone Body Cream, 102 Cartons of Foreign Eva Soap, 69x5Litres of Foreign Vegetable Oil, and 30 x 25Litres of Foreign Vegetable Oil.

Other items include Sacks of Foreign Second Hand Shoes, 3 Sacks of Foreign Tomato Paste, 13 Sacks of Foreign Hides and Skin (Ponmo), 113 Bundles of Foreign Textiles, 10 Cartons of Foreign Flavoured Chewing Gum, 7x25Kg Bags of Foreign Flour, 55 Pieces of Foreign Used Tyres, 438x25litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 87x50Kg Bags of Foreign Fertilizer.

In line with the Service’s mandate of curtailing the illegal importation of intoxicants, Comptroller Al-Bashir Hamisu also said that the unit has made what he described as a “spectacular seizure” of 72 sacks of Marijuana brought to the fore another trick by smugglers and means of concealment.

“In this case, the smuggler concealed the Marijuana inside sacks of Cassava Flour (popularly known as Garri). The Operatives of the Unit with the aid of an informant intercepted the Marijuana along the Sokoto-Zamfara axis and brought it to the Office.” He said.

He said that the confiscated Marijuana will soon be handed over to the Commandant National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kaduna State Command, in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration.

According to him, the Unit is gradually achieving its target of suppressing smuggling within the Zone; “it is on record that the Unit made a total 949 interceptions/seizures at different locations in the Zone from 1 January to 20 December 2022 with combined DPV of N2,345,155,577.38 which shows an increase when compared with duty paid value of N1, 319,332,763.00 in the corresponding year of 2021 .” he added.

Commending the tireless efforts of the Customs Operatives, Comptroller Hamisu attributed the Unit’s success to its sharing of intelligence with other sister agencies and effective performance management.

He further enjoined citizens to volunteer information to stem the menace of smuggling in Nigeria.

In the same vein, the Comptroller warned the smugglers to stay off the red zones during the Yuletide season, “I want them to know that our operatives are on red alert and vigilant to tame smuggling activities during the festive period with a view of arresting and prosecuting them.” he added.

He also commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), and his Management Team for their motivation and support to the Unit towards discharging their duties.

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Kano State Hosts 8th Annual Audit Forum to Enhance Transparency and Accountability

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The 8th Annual Audit Forum, organized by the Office of the Auditor General of Kano State, was held recently, focusing on strengthening transparency and accountability in public financial management. .

Isma’ila Musa, the Auditor General of Kano State, welcomed the participants and highlighted the constitutional and legal mandates that guide the auditing process. “Sections 125(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and 36(i) of the Kano State Audit Law, 2021 (as amended) mandate the Office of the Auditor General to audit the accounts and financial statements of the State Government and all Offices and Courts,” he stated.

Musa expressed immense gratitude to His Excellency, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State, for his support in making the event possible. “It is very important to note that a strengthened fiscal transparency will help build trust in governance,” he emphasized. He added that the Audit Forum is a reform intended to reduce opportunities for corruption and abuse of public resources, thereby increasing the efficiency of public expenditures.

The Auditor General also acknowledged the contributions of various officials, including the Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Accountant General, the Executive Chairman of Kano Internal Revenue Services, and former Auditors General, among others. “My sincere appreciation to all the invitees here present for honoring our invitation. I wish us a successful 8th Kano State Annual Audit Forum,” Musa concluded.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Honorable Tukur Fagge, praised the exercise for its potential to enhance resource management and ensure the success of the tasks at hand. “This exercise will enhance resources management and will realize the success of the task,” Fagge stated.

Sarkin Shanon Kano, Shehu Muhammad Dankadai, who served as the royal father of the day, also graced the event, adding to the significance of the occasion.

The forum underscored the commitment of the Kano State Government to upholding transparency and accountability, reflecting the administration’s dedication to effective and efficient service delivery.

 

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Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93

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Late Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi

 

A former secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, has passed away.

A family source, Jafar Yakubu, informed NIGERIAN TRACKER about the death of the pioneer secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, who supervised the 1979 general election.

 

Jafar Yakubu said Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi died at the age of 93 and his Janaza funeral prayers will take place by 2:30 PM at Kurfi in KATSINA state .

 

Dr. Amadu Kurfi, OFR, was born in 1931. He was a former chairman of the then Marketing Board, former Federal Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the first person to acquire a BSc degree in the whole of Katsina State, at University College London in 1957.

 

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President Tinubu Sacks UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Registrar

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The governing council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been dissolved by President Bola Tinubu.

The president dissolved the council and approved the removal of the institution’s vice-chancellor Bernard Odoh and the university registrar, Rosemary Nwokike.

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy said the action by Tinubu follows allegations of procedural violations in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.

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He also said that the council led by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe and including five other members—Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin was accused of bypassing due process to appoint an unqualified candidate, prompting federal intervention.

Onanuga said, “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.

He added that following the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address the rivalry between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the institution.

“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process”, Onanuga added.

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