.Command rakes in ₦2.9 billion in 10 days
By Uzor Odigbo
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, Dr. Jayne Shoboiki has reiterated her resolve to ensure that maximum revenue is collected on all imports and exports at the Command under her watch.
The CAC, officers and men of the Command, after due deliberations and strategic re-positioning have started the year with high hopes and expectations.
Already, their efforts have yielded bountiful fruits as figures TheNiche obtained from the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Ephraim Haruna, indicate that brighter days are ahead going by the efforts of the Revenue and Anti-Smuggling section that have produced results in the first two weeks of January 2019.
The Command started the year 2019 with an unprecedented revenue collection of ₦2,911,374,014.00 within the first 10 days of the month of January 2019.
In 2018, the Command generated over N50 billion; figure that surpassed that of 2017 with Two billion, Fifty Seven million, One hundred and forty four thousand, seven hundred and eighty nine naira and fifty kobo (₦2,057,144,789.50).
In 2018, the Command recorded significant number of detentions and seizures from import and export of prohibited Items with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, Sixty Eight Million, Forty Three thousand, One Hundred and Sixty One Naira (1,068,043,161).
The Command has made seizures of military hardware without End User Certificates (EUC) imported into the Country, and prohibited items to be exported out of the country.
The Military hardware impounded include: 10 sets of military camouflage uniforms, 63 cartons of bullet proof jackets, 30 cartons of military helmet, 24 pieces of military face caps and 10 sets mkilitary vest of different camouflage colours.
Also impounded are one air gun imported with two different End User Certificates, 20 pieces of assorted optical sights wrapped in military camouflage uniform bags, mainly for rifles and grenade launchers, Five cartons of military knee/shin guards, 138 cartons containing handcuffs, 133 packages containing Police official cardigans, 710 pieces of military head gears.
The Command revealed that cartons of drones are intercepted almost on daily basis as 108 cartons of expired (2009) beef imported into the country from South Africa have also been intercepted by eagle eyed officers of the Command.
With professional candour and high alert level of officers of the Command, 51 sacks of pangolin scales and 64 packs containing elephants tusks were intercepted and handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Other items impounded within the first two week of January 2019 are one 191 cartons of Tramadol tablets without NAFDAC Registration Number which were to be exported out of the country and 99 sacks of unprocessed donkey’s skin. These have been handed over to officials of NAFDAC and Quarantine for further investigation and processing.
This year, the command has intercepted and detained two packages of military camouflage uniforms imported without End User Certificates (EUC).
Other military item impounded include 43 pieces desert camouflage combat shorts, 13 pieces of complete set jackets, 20 pieces of complete set of camouflage combats uniforms.
Other items such as camouflage polo shirts (38 pieces), camouflage inner vest (71 pcs), camouflage peak caps (150 pcs), 59 cartons of Tramadol tablets have been intercepted and detained by the Command as well as 51 cartons of drones which were also intercepted and detained until the production of End User Certificates (EUC), by the importer.
Stakeholders at the Command who were initially hostile and unwilling to cooperate with the CAC and her officers have also seen reasons to collaborate and work together with Customs in the interest of the country and citizens.
Expectations are therefore high that the MM Command will deliver in its revenue drive, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations.
