By Priscilla Campbell,
Minna
The Nigeria Customs Service, Niger/Kara/Kogi states Command has generated N1, 709, 663, 828.08 representing 56% within six months against N853, 831,083.92 in 2018.
The command was given an annual target of N3, 051, 699,704.51.
The Area Controller, Abba-Kassim Yusuf, made the disclosure during the Bi-annual briefing in Minna, Niger State.
He said that the success recorded between January and February was due to the commands’ zero tolerance to smuggling.
In a breakdown of the revenue realized withing six months of 2019, he said in January N210, 466, 789. 18 was realized, February N4, 307, 586, 65, March N599, 981, 188.03, April, N323, 354, 642.43, May, N293, 559, 557.88, and June in N277, 994, 063.91.
Yusuf explained that when he assumed duty, the command had 12 serviceable patrol vehicles that increased to 23, adding that out of the 17 unserviceable vehicles, seven were brought back to work.
“I immediately, deployed them (30 vehicles) for patrol activities which resulted to 48 seizures with Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N78, 975, 920.”
The breakdown of seized goods within the period under review include 42 seizures of rice totaling 2,919 bags worth N54 279,300.00, 29 seizures of Used Vehicles with DPV of N23. 780, 300.00.
Others are 22 seizures of Bales of Secondhand Clothing with DPV of N792, 000.00 as well as items such as Sugar, Tyres, Vegetable Oil, foot wears among others worth N281, 320, 000.00.
The Controller further stated that in July, the command made three seizures of 189 bags of Rice with DPV of N3, 213,000.00, another 6 tyres truck suspected to be carrying 300 bags of Rice was intercepted with DPV of N5, 100, 000.00.
“A Mitsubishi Canter with Reg. No XC 112 BDU suspecting to be conveying 100 bags of Rice with DPV of N1,700, 000.00 was also arrested within this month.”
The Controller then reiterated the commands’ resolve to rid the Niger/Kwara/Kogi states of the activities of smugglers.