The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has generated about N15.89 trillion revenue and seized goods with total duty paid value of N134.48bn between February and April.
NCS Area Comptroller, Mr Adamu Abdulkadir, made the disclosure on Thursday in Ibadan while briefing newsmen on the achievements of the command in three months.
According to him, the Command seized 3,311 bags of foreign rice of 50kg each and 221 cartons of dry fish within the period.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other seizures made by the command include 138 gallons (10 litres each) of vegetable oil, 572 gallons (2.5 litres each) of vegetable oil and 21 bales of second hand clothing.
Others are 487 kegs of 25 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), six bales of used shoes, nine sacks of Canabis Sativa and one unit of used DAF truck.
Abdulkadir said that the total Duty Paid Valued of all the seized items stood at N134,477,316.
He further said that the command also generated a total of N15,890,489,479 within the period under review.
He said that the command had carried out its enforcement and anti-smuggling activities with utmost professionalism, caution and intelligence gathering.
“Another proficient team has been set up, codenamed the ‘Excise Task Force’ to manage the Excise Factories extensively and widen the dragnet to infuse factories that have qualified to be enlisted under the Customs and Excise Control.
“These developments have further improved the performance and achievements of the command on revenue and enforcement procedures.
“We urge the public to cooperate with the Nigeria Customs Service in the implementation of government fiscal policies to help improve the economic and social welfare of the nation,” he said.
Abdulkadir said that officers of the command endangered their lives for the progress of the country.
He added that three of his men were shot and wounded in an encounter with smugglers along Igbowo area of Oyo state.
The comptroller called on the media to be careful on what they report and to stop destroying people’s image in the course of making money or breaking news.
“The Oyo and Osun states borders remain closed to any form of inward and outward trade.
“It has been a difficult time for the nation, but in the midst of this, there are some unscrupulous elements who are still trying to derail the efforts of the service in meeting up to its target.
“We have been dealing with them decisively,” he said.
He commended the collaborative efforts of the Customs Intelligence Unit, Border Drill, Strike Force, Federal Operation Units and other sister agencies in carrying out anti-smuggling activities.
Abdulkadir also appreciated traditional rulers, community leaders and the people of Osun and Oyo states in providing an enabling environment for the officers to function properly. (NAN)
