Senate probe Customs invasion of rice traders’ shops at Bodija market
(Nigeria) The Senate, on Tuesday, mandated the Committee on Ethics,
Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the alleged invasion of Rice
Traders’ shops by men of the Nigerian Customs that resulted in the carting away
of goods to the tune of N85million.
This followed receipt of a petition from the Ibadan
Foodstuff Sellers Association addressed to the Senate President through Senator
Kola Balogun representing Oyo South senatorial district.
According to the lawmaker, 3,046 bags of rice worth
N79,196,000; 25kg vegetable oil numbering 14; cash of N4,862,000; and 15kg bags
of Gari were carted away by men of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, during a
forceful invasion of shops in the absence of traders.
The Ibadan Foodstuff Sellers Association, in the petition to
the Senate President, said, “the above named association write to report the
unfortunate night invasion of the Bodija International Market, Ibadan and the
forceful breakage of the Rice traders’ shops by men of the Nigerian Customs,
Ikeja Unit, Lagos on March 31 through April,
1 2021.
“Our shops and warehouses were forcefully opened in our
absence and the following items were carted away: 3,046 bags of Rice at N26,000
per bag – N79,196,000; 14 (Nos) 25kg Vegetable Oil; Cash of N4,862,000.00; and
One (Nos) 15kg Bag of Gari.
“It is pertinent to report to you, Sir, that five (5 nos)
shops still remain under special white padlock, the same that were put on the
forcefully broke ones.
“The Ibadan Customs Unit has advised us not to unlock the
locked shops for reasons unknown to us and owners of the shops have been
rendered helpless. They cannot access their shops and neither can they trade in
anything. Their families have been suffering.
“We seek the intervention of your highly esteemed office for
the immediate return of all the items and cash carted away from from our shops
and warehouses.
“We also seek for the Red Chamber’s investigation into the
reasons behind the forceful raid on our shops. We demand that such raid should
stop henceforth and this one should be the last of such action on the innocent
peaceful traders in our market.
“We demand that tight security arrangements be put in place
in the market by the government to protect our products after closure from
business activities of the day to avoid looting of our shops by hoodlums who
might want to follow the illegal footsteps of the men of the Nigerian Customs
Service.
“We demand that the Nigeria Customs should be warned against
the use of the crude and cruel method of infringing on traders’ properties and
products.
“That the action of the Nigeria Customs is seriously
infringing on our rights to trade in legitimate items within the country as the
midnight invasion violates all democratic principles.”
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the petition to the Senator Ayo Akinyelure-led Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition for investigation.
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