Customs auction 462 impounded vehicles for ₦556m

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has realised about ₦556.74 million from its ongoing e-auction of 462 impounded vehicles.

NCS in a statement on Saturday by its Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, dispelled rumours of allotting 300 vehicles to a single individual.

According to the data generated after five effective bidding windows concluded, 13,605 applicants registered on the e-auction portal, he stated.

As stated by the NCS spokesman, 476 impounded vehicles were published to the service portal throughout the process, with 462 of them being awarded through application competitions.

“The government realised ₦556,738,736 as revenue from the e-auction sale. It begs the question of where the allegations of monumental stealing by the Customs Auction Committee and the committee’s plans to dispose of overtime containers is coming from,” he added.

Maiwada additionally expressed his disappointment at the grave allegations that have been leveled against the ongoing electronic auction process, which was intended to ensure an equitable environment for all Nigerian citizens.

He asserts that the NCS is a government organization committed to upholding a strict code of ethics and transparency in every facet of its operations, adhering to the law.

“We wish to categorically deny involvement in fraudulent activities or underhand dealings in the e-auctioning of vehicles or other goods. The NCS Auction Committee operates within the confines of the law and adheres strictly to established guidelines and procedures for disposing of seized/overtime goods,” the statement read.

“Regarding the allegation that over 300 vehicles have been auctioned to just one individual via the e-auction window after purported underhand payments, we wish to state that this is entirely false, misguided, and spurious.

“Furthermore, suggesting that a token sum of N10,000 is collected as duties to the Federal Government on the e-auction window, which has a reserved price of N400, 000 is indeed misleading and misrepresentation of fact.”