Hussein Ejibunu, Deputy Inspector General of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), said the Service Support Act, coupled with efforts to improve local production of garments and avoid outbreaks of the disease. , the federal government bans the import of used clothing into the country.
Ejibunu told the Saturday Tribune that along with used clothing, used clothing, used refrigerators and used shoes are on the federal government’s no-holds-barred list. He said:
“The number one reason customs confiscate used clothing is that it is prohibited on the Customs and Excise Administration Act (CEMA) Schedule 4 Absolute Prohibition List.
This law prohibits the importation of used clothes.
“Second, the federal government doesn’t want us to import used clothes because of health risks. Nigerians do not know the health status of those who wore most of these garments before being shipped here.
“At a time when dangerous diseases such as monkeypox are rampant, importing such imports could have a dangerous impact on Nigerians.
“One of the very serious health implications of importing these textiles is that they expose users to skin diseases such as scabies and fungal diseases, which are transmitted by wearing old, unwashed clothing. There is likely to be.
“This came at a time when monkeypox, which is transmitted through clothing, is feared around the world. Or it is transmitted to humans through virus-contaminated materials. Monkeypox virus is transmitted from person to person through close contact with contaminants such as infected areas, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and bedding.
“It is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs mainly in rainforest regions of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.
“Third, the federal government has banned the import of used clothing to encourage local production of fabrics and clothing.
“The government wants to protect the local textile industry and create more jobs for Nigerians, from cotton farms to textile mills to garment factories.
“Calabar has a factory that produces a lot of fabric. If the government continues to allow used clothing into the country, it will kill such businesses in Calabar, leading to further unemployment. ”
