Seme Command for diligence to duty
ZAINAB JUNAID
In line with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) dictate of encouraging its personnels, the Officers and Men of Seme Area Command that were involved in the seizures of fake Six million USD ($6,000,000) currency, Fifteen (15) fake international passports and Ten (10) Driver’s license, and that of Donkey skins in January, 2023 have been rewarded with commendation and congratulatory letters by the Ag. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.
Customs Area Controller of the Command, Compt. Dera Nnadi, disclosed this on Friday 8th 2023, while briefing journalists on recent seizures and revenue generated in the last 8 months by diligent officers of the command.
The Commendation and Congratulatory letters dated September 1st, 2023, from the Command were presented to the beneficiaries at the briefing.
Compt. Nnadi who is also the Co-Chairman Seme-Krake Joint Border Post before his recent redeployment to TinCan Island Port said the feat was in line with the personnels' act of bravery and display of integrity in the discharge of their duty.
Speaking on the notable impacts made by the Command in its key performance indicators which are revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations for the last 8 months, Compt. Nnadi noted that the Command's revenue target for the year 2023 is One Billion Nine Hundred and Sixty Million Naira Only(₦1,960,000,000).
However, as at Friday morning 8th of September, 2023, the Command has collected One Billion Nine Hundred and Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Naira, Seventy Seven Kobo (N1,904,459, 390.77) which represents 97.2% of N1,960,000,000 allotted target for the year 2023.
This shows a tremendous increase of N1, 018,916, 292. 33 (51.98%) in the corresponding period under review for year 2022, where the Command generated a revenue of Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Million, Five Hundred and Forty Three Thousand, Ninety Eight Naira Eleven Kobo (N885,543,098.11).
Compt Nnadi attributed the feat to a painstaking efforts made by the leadership of the Command in partnership with stakeholders to ensure compliance with revenue generation agenda.
Meanwhile, in anti-smuggling operation, he highlighted Six Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty Nine (6569) 50kg bags of rice equivalent to sixteen (16) trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value of ₦312, 242, 064.93k; 13, 835 x 30 liters Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit equivalent to 415, 050 liters/13 petroleum tankers with Duty Paid Value of ₦738,276, 461k; 15,389 of General Merchandise Goods; Hard Drugs and Narcotics; 41 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 4,900 Tablets, 225mg of Tramadol Tamol-X, 3,600 Tablets 225mg Tramadol Royal 225, 157 Tablets of Heineken Ecstacy, 864 Packs of Cigarette; among items that were seized from smugglers.
In the same vein, Officers and Men of the Command acting on credible intelligence intercepted One Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty Four (1,364) 30 Liters Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit equivalent to forty thousand eight hundred (40,800) litres over one Tanker Load and with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of (N24, 663, 355) at the early hours of Friday 8th September, 2023 along the Badagry Coast
"The duty paid value for items seized for the period January to 8th Septmeber 2023 is One Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Nineteen Niara (₦1, 827, 362, 619. 00)," he said.
On Trade Liberalisation, Comptroller Dera Nnadi lamented that Economoc Community of West Africa State(ECOWAS) region is yet to maximize gains of ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) which depicts that it is not fully ready for the African Continental Free Trade Area(AFCFTA).
"Among the trade blocks in Africa, the ECOWAS region has a population of 428.6 million people and ranks second in Africa after East Africa region with a population of 474.9 million people. It is expected that the potential inherent in this advantageous position will be translated to increase trade among countries of the ECOWAS subregion especially between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin with a combined population of nearly 250 million people.
"Sadly, ECOWAS ranks fourth at 10 per cent when it comes to trade within the African Continent. Southern African Development Community (SADC) with a population of 69.2 million people ranks first in trading among themselves at 32. 12 percent, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) at 20.32 per cent, and Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) at 16.59 per cent. This is an indication that the ECOWAS region is yet to maximize the gains of ETLS. Again, this underscores the level of our limited preparedness for the African Continental Fre Trade Area (AfCFTA)," he lamented.
To him, "Several factors have been adjudged to hamper trade (between Nigeria and her proximate neighbour) within the sub-region especially transit trade across the countries and along the corridor. There have been several complaints by operators against the closure of the borders, the non-adherence to transit agreements signed under the ECOWAS, World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the General Agreement on Trade and Tariff. However, the Comptroller General of Customs, Government of both countries and the stakeholders are all on the same page regarding the need to improve our relationship with a view to maximize the opportunities offered by the proximity of our two countries to the border and develop trade along the corridor."
While fielding questions with journalists, Nnadi noted the positive impact felt by the community since he took over the reigns of leadership of the Command on the 23rd of January 2023.
His tremendous footprint in the last 8 months as Area Controller of Seme Command cannot be overemphasized for the Command witnessed a remarkable improvement in revenue, Anti-Smuggling and trade facilitation.
The CAC also used the opportunity to appreciate the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs for his support to the Command and also appreciated Seme Badagry Community for their cooperation and officers of the Command for their patriotism.
Some of the personnels rewarded with the commendation and congratulatory letters includes-Assistant Controller of Customs, AC IP Musa, OC Operations ED Ashinze, IP Muhammed, Iyali, AY Abdlmumeen, AI Ibrahim among others.
When interviewed, they praised Nnadi for leveraging and sustaining robust relationship with neighbouring community since his assumption of duty as the Area Controller of Seme Command and also applauded him for renovating some dilapidated infrastructureswhich arose as a result of the border closed.
"The Controller also added value to sporting activities by making sport equipments, footballs available to the six ethnic grouos at SEME Border Community within the short period spent with them," they said.
