The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has reiterated the ban on the clearance of pharmaceutical products through bonded terminals, emphasizing that such consignments must now be processed exclusively at designated seaports.
Speaking to journalists at the APM Terminal in Apapa on Monday, following the interception of 16 containers with infractions, Adeniyi acknowledged importers’ concerns over the right to choose their preferred clearance locations. However, he stressed that recent developments at bonded terminals—particularly regulatory violations—necessitated the enforcement of stricter controls.
The CGC highlighted the sensitive nature of pharmaceutical imports and the alarming abuses observed in their handling.
With CGC Adeniyi’s order, clearance of pharmaceutical products are now to be done only at:
– Apapa Port
– PTML (Port & Terminal Multi-purpose Limited)
– Lagos International Airport
– Onne Port, Port Harcourt
This directive aims to ensure tighter scrutiny and prevent the infiltration of counterfeit or unregulated drugs into the Nigerian market.
The seizure of the 16 containers underscores the NCS’s commitment to safeguarding public health and upholding regulatory standards. More updates later.