The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has collected the sum of one billion, two hundred and forty-seven million, one hundred and thirty-one thousand, sixty-nine naira, fourteen kobo (N1,247,131,069.14) as revenue for the month of November, 2016.
The command also made ninety-nine (99) seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of eighty-two million, eight hundred and eighty-four thousand, three hundred and eight naira (82,884,308.00) during the period under review.
According to the press release issued on Friday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Selechang Taupyen, the revenue collected exceeded the monthly revenue target of the Command with fifty-nine million, one hundred and thirty-one thousand, sixty-nine naira, fourteen kobo (N59,131,069.14).
He stated that the upsurge in the revenue figure of the last quarter of 2016 justified the command’s open door policy and its commitment to excel in revenue generation viz-a-viz anti-smuggling operations.
“The resolve of the Command to remain resolute in actualizing the vision/mission of the Service and the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) without compromise cannot be over-emphasized”, he stated.
Commenting on the revenue figure, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Victor Dimka attributed the feat to the commitment of his management team, the cooperation and compliance level of the stakeholders and the host communities that were ready to partner with him in transforming the Command.
He stressed that being firm and persistent to the principle of transparency, diplomacy and fairness despite forces of distraction was gradually stabilizing the Command’s revenue drive.
Dimka reiterated that the Command would continue to facilitate and provide a conducive and a level playing ground for every genuine trader that uses the Seme international land border as a corridor to the West African sub region.
He also attributed the success recorded to the firm stand taken by the Valuation Unit in generating values and the resolve of the Republic of Benin to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding signed on the 4th of August, 2016 saying that this had actually translated to the higher revenue collected despite the numerous challenges that would have ordinarily hampered the revenue generated.
In one of the briefings to his management team and patrol leaders, the Customs Area Controller highlighted that the posting of a proper officer to a particular duty post was predicated on the fact that the officer was conversant with the books of instructions that guide his modus operandi, hence infraction observed would be traced to where it originated from and the culprit made to face the consequences of his action hence, the need for carefulness and uprightness in discharging official functions among officers and men of the Service cannot be over-emphasized.
Speaking further on the yuletide season around the corner, the Customs Area Controller disclosed that officers and men must ensure that the entire border is fortified against smuggling activities and cross border crimes of any kind.
He also caution the unprofessional use of arms among operational officers, stressing that arms should be used only when the conditions for usage becomes unavoidable.
The Customs boss warned that a situation where the border environment and communities always witness a lot of cross border vices and crises during the yuletide season would neither be encouraged nor tolerated under his watch.
He enjoined officers and men of the Command to maintain a high level of discipline, professionalism and patriotism in the discharge of their responsibilities while observing the 7Cs as their operational guidelines.
He charge all patrol leaders to ensure that Seme command remained blocked to smugglers of all restricted and contraband goods.