....Command Seizes Contrabands Worth N398.4m
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Acting Customs
Area Controller, Ogun 1 Area Command, of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS)
Deputy Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, has attributed the significant
increase of over 400% (N24,921,200.00) in the revenue generated for the month
of October 2023 compared to that recorded in 2022 to the unwavering commitment of the Command to trade
facilitation and robust stakeholders’ engagement.
DC Shuaibu made the attribution at a press briefing held at the Command today to reel out the Command’s achievements in October, 2023.
He said the achievements underscore their unwavering
commitment to contributing to economic development and national security of the
Country, through the mandate of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling
and trade facilitation in Ogun State.
Reeling out the achievements made so far, DC Shuaib disclosed that the Command raised thirty million, four hundred and eight thousand, two hundred and seventy six naira (N30,408,276.00) as revenue, through baggage assessment and auction sales of seized petroleum products."
A significant increase of about twenty four million, nine hundred and twenty one thousand, two hundred naira(N24,921,200.00), that is an increase of 400%, when compared to the amount five million, four hundred and eighty seven thousand and seventy six (N5,487,076.00) collected in 2022 for the same period under review.
"We are able to achieve these feat due to our unwavering commitment to trade facilitation and robust stakeholders’ engagement," the DC said.
He added that the Command recorded seizures of 122 items comprising 901 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, fondly called Marijuana or Indian hemp; 500 pieces of foreign-used Pneumatic Tyres, popularly referred to as Tokunbo tyres; 23 units of vehicles used as means of conveying prohibited goods and 5 foreign used vehicles also known as Tokunbo; and 4,684 bags of foreign parboiled rice in 50kg each, which is an equivalence of 8 trailers load, among others.
The seizures according to him, correspond to three hundred and ninety eight million, four hundred and seventy thousand, six hundred and eighty seven naira(N398,470,687.00) Duty Paid Value.
"The persistent seizure of Cannabis Sativa, Foreign used Pneumatic tyres and other dangerous goods, is a testimony of the Command’s relentless efforts and resilience in preventing our teeming youth from harmful substances which could either truncate or render their lives useless.
"It is also a proof of our concern in safeguarding our motorists from road mishap which could terminate their lives or subject them to permanent disability. We are determined to making our society a safe place to live with peace of mind and an enabling environment for our businesses to thrive," he said
"Our success story is attributed to the enabling working atmosphere created by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team. As a matter of fact, we recently took delivery of 8 Toyota Land Cruiser trucks, provided by the CGC to enhance our anti-smuggling operations. Other factors responsible for our achievements was the strategic deployment of our gallant Officers and Men, deployment of intelligence and collaborative efforts of the sister agencies, and other critical stakeholders.
"As part of the commitment to improve on the existing synergy and collaboration with critical stakeholders in Ogun State, upon resumption of office, we embarked on a familiarization tour of traditional Institutions and security agencies. We were warmly received in all the places visited and secured their reassurances of continuous support and good working relationship. We visited the palaces of Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, the Olota and Paramount Ruler of Aworiland and Oniko of Ikolaje Kingdom, Idiroko. We equally visited the State Commands/Unit of the Nigerian Police (NPF), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of Security Service, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy School of Music (NNSM) and 192 Battalion Rear of the Nigerian Army.
The economic well-being and security of our dear nation is a serious business that should not be compromised. We reassured the general public of our unwavering dedication to discharging our statutory responsibility with due diligence and utmost sense of patriotism. We operate an open-door policy to accommodate the support of patriotic Nigerians through sharing of useful information and other forms of information that may require our attention on legitimate trade or our activities generally. Let me use this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to stemming the tides of smuggling in Ogun State and warn recalcitrant smugglers or would be smugglers to steer clear of smuggling activities or face the consequences. Failure to heed these warnings await them gross financial loss and full wrath of the law."
