Following credible intelligence gathering, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a container with imported soups (Stew) and some other eatable items worth N27,960,000 from China.
The container which was cleared from one of the ports in Lagos was arrested by the Customs CGC Strike Force team as a result of information provided by the Customs Intelligent Unit (CIU) all of the NCS.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos on Friday while showcasing some of the items seized between September 19 and October 18, 2018, Deputy Comptroller and National Coordinator, CGC Strike Force, Abdullahi Kirawa said the system has degenerated to the level that Nigerians are now importing stew into the country.
He lamented that the imported pots of stew and other eatable items, which could not be verified as a result of the Chinese Language written on their packs, could pose serious dangers to the consumers.
According to Abdullahi Kirawa, “How can someone come and import stew into the country? The stew was carefully concealed inside the container. I will advise that Nigerians should ignore xenocentrism and embrace ethnocentrism.
“Our quest for foreign goods and items must be discouraged and we must work hard to embrace and patronise homemade goods including our delicious stew that is prepared from our homes, and stop engaging in this type of business. “This type of soup poses danger to public health, to the economy and of course our teeming youths. If stew could be imported, then what else are we going to do? So this is something we need to reflect on.”
However, he said some other packed items that looked like mushroom was already deteriorating in the container, saying this shows the dangers it would pose to human health when ingested or consumed.
Speaking on how to checkmate the menace of unhealthy importation of goods into the country, he said; “this is a call that this type of importation of goods must be discouraged. One of the things to use to solve this problem is public sensitization on the dangers of smuggling.
“Therefore, you and I must work hard to ensure that we spread this news to all nooks and crannies of this country for people to be aware that these are some of the things that pose dangers to their health and must be stopped.”
Recall that Nigerians have been importing foods that people normally prepared in their various homes in the last fours years, such as Jollof rice, Garri among others, which Customs have intercepted over the years.
