Kwara Customs command generates N2.5bn in 2 months
By Dele Moses
Kwara Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service has generated for the federal government an excise worth N2 527, 531 290. 00 in the last two months.
Acting Customs Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Ogundeyi, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command in the last two months.
Najeem made this disclosure just as he hinted at seizure of contrabands of sacks of parboiled rice, used cloths, kegs of petrol and illegally mined lithium ore by his command from smugglers
He said that excise remains the only source of revenue collection within the Kwara Area command and that the command ensures compliance with the excise.
He said that the over N2bn generated reflected the sustained commitment of the command to supporting the government’s fiscal objectives.
The custom boss said the smugglers of the contrabands were intercepted in various parts of Kwara state by officers of the command with the aid of sister security agencies before the seizure of the goods was made.
Ogundeyi, while mentioning the volume of the seizures, disclosed that the Duty Paid Value (DPA) derivable from the seizures worth N478, 171 315.00.
He highlighted the seizures as follows: “Five (5) units of second-hand vehicles, popularly referred to as Tokunbo vehicles, intercepted at Alapa Patrol Base and Bode Saadu axis.
“Sixty (60) sacks of second-hand clothing, six (6) jumbo sacks of second-hand clothing, and two (2) bales of second-hand clothing, alongside two hundred and twenty-two (222) units of used compressors and fifteen (15) pieces of used tyres, all intercepted at Eiyenkorin area of Kwara State.
“Forty-four (44) bags of 50kg imported sugar, intercepted at Bukuro and Bode Saadu axis.
“Three Hundred and Seventeen (317) jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intercepted at various Patrol Base, suspected to be intended for illegal cross-border smuggling.
“One thousand, one hundred and seven (1,107) bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, intercepted at various Patrol Bases.
“One hundred and twenty (120) sacks of illegally mined lithium ore, intercepted at Alapa/Banni area of Kwara State.
“Nine (09) vehicles loaded with foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, intercepted during coordinated anti-smuggling operations within the Command’s operational corridors.”
The customs boss said interception of the smugglers was justified by the urgent need to curb economic sabotage, protect legitimate businesses, safeguard national revenue, and ensure compliance with extant laws governing cross-border trade.
He praised the inter-agency collaboration and coordinated intelligent gatheting that facilitated seizure of the contrabands.
“I must commend the excellent working relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, and our sister security and regulatory agencies. The successes we are presenting today are the result of strong inter-agency collaboration, coordinated intelligence gathering, and effective information sharing.
“This synergy remains critical in addressing the complex and evolving challenges posed by trans-border crimes,” he stated.
