FG releases N400m goods trapped at Seme border

The Federal Government has ordered the release of over N400 million worth of goods trapped at Seme as a result of the closure of the nation’s land borders.

Government had in 2019 ordered the closure of its land borders with neighbouring West Africa nation’s, citing insecurity and proliferation of arms as some of the reasons for the directive.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which is coordinating the border closure exercise, approved the release over one year after the abrupt closure of the land borders.

It was further learnt that the approval which was contained in a letter signed by Major General E.A. Ndagi on behalf of the National Security Adviser, and dated November 13, 2020 and addressed to the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali.

Our correspondent gathered that the FG’s directive has been communicated to the Customs Area Comptroller, Seme Area Command, Lagos in a letter.

“The goods are being cleared by the Association of the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) as detailed at Enclosure 1. Accordingly, the Nigeria Customs Service is kindly requested to facilitate the release in line with extant regulations,” it stated.

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA), Seme border chapter, had in a letter to the National Security Adviser appealed for the release of goods trapped at Seme.