Customs Makes ₦556m Through E-auction Of 462 Vehicles, Dispels Rumours Of Allotting 300 Vehicles To A Single Individual

Customs makes ₦556m through e-auction of 462 vehicles during 5 successful bidding windows, where 476 vehicles were uploaded.

Dispels rumours of allotting 300 vehicles to a single to a single individual after purported underhand payments.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said that the Federal Government has realized about ₦556,738,736 Naira (₦556.7 million) as revenue from its ongoing e-auctioning of overtime/impounded vehicles.

A statement signed by Custom’s PRO, Abdullahi Maiwada, shows that 13,605 applicants registered on the agency’s e-auction portal during five successful bidding windows, where 476 vehicles were uploaded, and 462 vehicles won.

The agency also dispelled rumours of allotting 300 vehicles to a single individual through the e-auction window after purported underhand payments of N10,000 per vehicle, noting that each car has a reserved price of N400,000.

“From the data generated upon completing five successful bidding windows, 13,605 applicants registered in five windows on our e-auction portal, where 476 vehicles were uploaded, and 462 won. Also, the government realized N556,738,736 as revenue.

Reacting to the receipt of a report titled “The Monumental Stealing By The Customs Auction Committee And Their Plans To Dispose-Off Overtime Containers”, the NCS said :

“It is disheartening to note the serious allegations regarding the integrity of the ongoing e-auction process designed to provide a level playing ground for all Nigerians.

“The NCS is a law-abiding government organization dedicated to maintaining the most outstanding levels of accountability and transparency in all its activities and taking any accusations of improper behaviour seriously.

“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.

“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.”