By Godwin Oritse

The Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has said that some official of Government particularly those in the seaport aid and abet illegal the exportation of wood through the ports.

File Photo: Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, impounded this vessel, MT Shandy, over suspected crude oil theft.

Deputy Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the group Mr. Prosper Okolo disclosed this to Vanguard saying that  the group recently accosted some Asians involved in the illicit trade.

Okolo noted that the issue export of some prohibited items have been on the increase following the connivance of some Nigerian officials.

He said  that  the exportation of wood is currently causing serious deforestation in some states where this commodity is gotten.

“The above commodity is listed in the prohibition list of items un -exportable  from Nigeria. Currently, Nigerian and some Asians exporters in collaboration with Nigerian freight forwarders, shipping firms are involved in this illicit exportation.

“Some of the states known for growing woods are currently experiencing deforestation as a result of cutting and exportation of these woods.

“In such a time when global warming is sweeping across the world and trees being planted to protect the environment, we are exporting our own for peanuts” he added.

Okolo also expressed concern not only on the illegal wood export,but   fraudulentl collection of export proceeds from the government   the Non negotiable Duty Deposit Certificate (NDDC) grants.

Investigation revealed that the processed wood at the Tin Can Island port showed that the clearing agent Adlat Investment Limited alongside some Customs officers were  involved in the examination of a container laden with woods.

Some of the containers with number BMDU 21711719, IPXU3013104, TRLU 3839665 fscu 7982233 CMAU 1142494 and CMAU 1215559 all laden with treated woods.

Despite the discrepancies in the some of the containers, the Customs officials alongside officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) issued a certificate of examination.

Despite the sanction of a five year jail term that awaits offenders, Nigerians still connive with foreiners to short change the system.