By Alex Akao.

The Western Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Lagos, has intercepted 157 sacks of ammonium sulphate and Polypropylene, described as useful in the making of explosive devises as well as agricultural fertilizers.

The controversial substances, which were earlier declared stollen on transit with a street value of about ₦4.5 million, were intercepted on a boat while being ferried to a fertilizer plant.

The two items are among other sundry seizures amounting to over N582.207 recorded by the area command in the past few months.

Area Controller of the command, Comptroller PN Ntadi, who showcased the seizures to journalists on Thursday in Apapa listed the other seizures to include, 1,312 loaves of foreign Cannabis Sativa with a duty paid value of ₦232.8M, 1,827 bags of foreign parboiled rice (₦204.6M), 174 sacks of Amsul valued at ₦15.6M, 42 kegs of PMS with duty paid value of ₦1.94M.

Similarly, the marine command also seized 14 boat engines valued at ₦73.3M, as well as 11 fiber boats valued at ₦46.2M and three wooden boats valued at ₦3.15M.

Comptroller Ntadi, who assumed headship of the nation’s foremost marine command only recently, emphasized infrastructure upgrades, enhanced security, welfare improvements, and significant anti-smuggling operations, as some of the milestone improvements the command has witnessed within a short period.

He noted other structural developments in the command to include security reinforcement which saw to the evacuation of hoodloms who had beseiged the area command for ages.

He said the local landgrabbers are now gated outside the area’s perimeter fence with a newly constructed security post at the Command’s gate.

He also hinted of the installation of a large signpost to enhance the command’s identity with Greenfield landscaping.

To boost operations, Comptroller Ntadi said that he had refurbished two patrol vehicles to boost land-side logistics and crew efficiency.

The controller also stated that the welfare of his officers and men is also receiving enhanced attention, inline with the policy and desire of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

The drug seizures of 1,312 loaves of foreign Cannabis Sativa were later handed over to the Commander, Apapa Strategic Command of NDLEA, Obadiah Buba Wakawa. who commended Comptroller Ntadi and his men for the good job done in seizing the hard drugs.

The event also featured the decoration of 28 senior officers and 8 junior officers, including the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Okopi.

Comptroller Ntadi urged the newly promoted personnel to uphold professionalism and integrity in their new roles.