The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ has intercepted three trucks conveying six 6×20ft containers of logs of unprocessed timber.
The Zonal Coordinator for Zone ‘C’, Olusemire Kayode while displaying the intercepted items at the zonal headquarters, Port Harcourt on Monday added that two suspects were arrested in connection to the seizure.
Kayode who noted that the exportation of unprocessed timber contravenes schedule 6 of the Extant Common External Tariff (CET) added that deforestation comes with negative effects such as desert encroachment and environmental degradation.
He added that when tree felling is not checkmated, the ecosystem and its biodiversity are left to suffer.
He decried the economic loss brought upon Nigeria with the exportation of unprocessed logs adding that employment creation which results from local processing of the logs is vital for Nigeria’s teeming youth.
He commended the Controller and officers of the unit for their resilience, doggedness and steadfastness in tackling smuggling and cautioned against “senseless attacks on our operatives while carrying out their legitimate duties”.