Nigeria Customs auctions 408 impounded vehicles at N4.72m

The Nigeria Customs Services has auctioned 408 impounded vehicles to some firms and individuals at a total giveaway price of N4,770,000.

The vehicles were said to have been branded as scrap and sold through direct auction allocation.

For instance, 338 of the vehicles were sold to one company at N3.38m.

This was done via a letter addressed to the company, AMEX West Africa Limited, dated March 25, 2022, by the Nigeria Customs Services’ Committee on Direct Disposal of Condemned Scrap Vehicles and other Items.

The letter, obtained by the Punch, coming with a reference number: NCS/ADM/MGT/012/S.2/C, signed by the Chairman, Direct Disposal of Scraps Committee, Comptroller A.D Sanusi, was titled, ‘Direct auction allocation of scrap vehicles and other items.’

It read, “I am directed to inform you that the Comptroller-General of Customs, acting on the provisions of Customs and Exercise Management (Disposal of goods) Act, CAP C46, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, hereby allocates the under-listed 338 lots of various scrap vehicles domiciled at Katsina State Area Command to your company as auction sales for the purpose of disposal, smelting and fabrication into raw materials for production valued at N3,380,000 only.

“All vehicles disposed of must be evacuated from the premises within 10 working days after payment or risk forfeiture. Furthermore, you are to note the following: Application for replacement of allocated vehicles would not be entertained. All allocation letters transferred or sold by the allottee to a third party shall be at the buyer’s risk.”

In another auction, 53 vehicles were disposed of through a letter from the committee dated September 5, 2022, to Nak Metal Steel Limited at a cost of N530,000.

Also, Gamchaka & Sons Nigeria Limited, was allocated two Toyota Camry and Mazda 626 cars at N120,000.

The section cited by the NCS to justify the sale read in part, “For the purposes of this Act, the Director (CG) shall generally have the power to sell or otherwise dispose of any goods forfeited pursuant to Section 1 of this section, and shall, in particular, be concerned with the functions; of determining the best method of sale or disposal of the goods; and where the goods are to be sold; of ensuring that such reasonable prices as may be determined by the Director are obtained in the course of such sale or disposal, and of appointing through tender (where necessary) any person or agent to buy or conduct the sale or disposal of the goods; and of ensuring that the goods shall not under any circumstances be sold or otherwise disposed of to any importer to whom the goods are or have been consigned or to any person, firm or agent connected therewith.”

A firm, Jelverson Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited, was allocated a Fiat Ducato for N80,000, Honda Accord (N30,000) and Volkswagen (N30,000), all located in Kano.

The NCS similarly sold a Mitsubishi Canter truck valued at N100,000; Toyota bus (N60,000) and Volkswagen Golf car (N20,000) to A1 Business Ltd., Abuja shopping complex, Garki Area 3.

Garbadau Global Services equally benefited from the exercise as it was allocated three pick-up vans parked in Kano at a cost of N150,000.

Three vehicles – Peugeot J5 bus valued at N80,000; V/W Golf car (N30,000) and Honda Accord (N30,000) were allocated to Team Option Services Limited, while  Kusfa Nigeria, got two V/W Golf cars (#60,000) and J5 bus (N70,000).