By Sylvanus OBASI, Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service has warned the general public to guard against impostors and fraudsters who are impersonating the Service on the social media.
Customs gave the warning in a press statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday and signed by Customs National Public Relations Officer and Chief Superintendent, Abdullahi Maiwada, a copy of which was made available to PLATFORM REPORTERS.
According to the statement, “The attention of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been brought to escalating activities of fraudulent entities preying on unsuspecting individuals through social media platforms, falsely claiming association with the service for purposes of auctions or recruitment. These individuals exploit the public’s trust and ignorance, promoting fictitious auctions and sham recruitment drives supposedly endorsed by our service.
“The service wishes to clarify that auctions of seized/overtime goods are never conducted via any social media platform. Any such claims on social media should be treated as fraudulent and promptly reported. All seized/overtime goods have a laid-down Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for disposal in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
“It is pertinent to state that the only portal for e-auction in NCS is https://auction.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng.
“For authentic updates about the operations of NCS, we strongly encourage the public to verify information exclusively through the official NCS website, www.customs.gov.ng. Additionally, you can contact our help desk lines through – 07037891156, 0201889889, and 02018898888. You can also reach out to NCS formations nationwide.
“Furthermore, our trusted official social media hubs for reliable, accurate and timely updates about NCS are as follows:
- Facebook: CustomsNG
- X (Formerly known as Twitter): @CustomsNG
- TikTok: @Nigeria_Customs
- Instagram: Official_CustomsNG
- Threads: Official_CustomsNG
- WhatsApp Channel: Nigeria Customs Service
- Youtube: NCBN Media House
Speaking further, customs said, “Our commitment remains unwavering in protecting the public from fraudulent activities. We implore all Nigerians to exercise vigilance and prudence when approached with unverified offers or announcements regarding NCS auctions or recruitment.
“Any suspicious activities should be reported to the nearest Customs formation or through our official communication channels listed above for immediate assistance”, the service warned.
