Customs FOU attributes seizure of LPG cylinders to intelligence
.SON warns against killer LPG cylinders
By Silas Onuoha
Comptroller Mohammed Uba:
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has attributed the seizure of a 40ft container loaded with substandard Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders falsely declared by the importer, in attempt to shortchange the Federal Government to the use of intelligence driven technique.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of FOU Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Mohammed Uba made this known, saying that handing over the items to Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), was in line with inter-agency collaboration between the Service and other agencies of government, in order to enhance ease of doing business and protect Nigerians from unhealthy products.
He stressed, “The seized items violated Customs procedure through false declaration and tried to shortchange government, following, which SON indicated interest in the contents”.
The Chief State prosecutor of SON, Mr. Babatunde Aajogun who received the items on behalf of the Director General of SON, thanked FOU Zone ‘A’ and the entire Customs management for the collaborative effort in releasing the items. He stated that the agency interest was informed by the fact that the goods are classified as life danger products.
Also, the Director of Inspectorate and Compliance, SON, Engineer Bede Obayi identified the importer of the seized items as ‘CramoHill Nigeria limited.
According to him, “The initial surveillance and investigation conducted revealed that the address provided on the import documents was fictitious and non-existent.
“We have to be vigilant because substandard LPG cylinders are like time bombs that can kill innocent users, if not stopped from coming into the country.
People should not patronize fairly used LPG cylinders, as they are risky and could cause death. People can identify good LPG cylinders with SON’s logo and unique serial identification number displayed on the cylinders”.
