The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its effort in curbing smuggling and other trade malpractices in the country.
Speaking against the backdrop of the recent clampdown on some foreign nationals around Kano and Kastina borders who were caught smuggling textile materials into the country, President of the Association, Frank Udemba Jacobs said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, that the ‘unholy acts’ are part of the nefarious activities that have been hindering the efforts of government to raise productivity and generate employment in the textile industry and other areas of the manufacturing sector.
“It may interest the Comptroller General of Customs to note that the textile and garment sector which hitherto employed a lot of Nigerians; particularly in the northern parts of the country such as the Kano and Kaduna industrial zones are today in a comatose state, with capacity utilization of less than 20 percent. This has led to loss of huge investments.
“MAN therefore wishes to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Comptroller General and the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service for their good and patriotic efforts aimed at reviving not just the textile industry but also the entire manufacturing sector and the Nigerian economy in general.
“Our resolve is that the Comptroller General of Customs should continue with these good works and remain undeterred, even in the face of pressure that may come from any quarter. We believe that the current leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service is equal to the task and is capable of rescuing Nigeria from the conspiracies of the economic saboteurs who are out to move against the genuine intentions of government, patriotic Nigerians and genuine foreign investors,” the statement said.
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