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…Makes Seizures Of Contrabands Running Into Several Millions Of Naira
The Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has said that it has generated N1, 709,663, 208.08 revenue in the last Six months, out of the N3, 051, 699, 704.51 total revenue target set by the Command for the year 2019, which represents 56percent of the annual target.
The Customs Area Controller, Niger/ Kwara/ Kogi Command, Abba-Kassim Yusuf stated this over the weekend in Minna, Niger State capital, the headquarters of the Command, during the Bi-annual Media briefing held to intimate the general public about the achievements and challenges of Area the Command.
He added that like any other month, the Command was able to surpass the monthly target with N 32,685,755.2, stressing that the Command generated N277,994,063.9 in the month of June 2019 out of N 245,308,308.71 of the monthly target, describing this modest achievement as quite a remarkable performance because the Command surpassed the revenue generated in June 2018 with N106,683,365.68.
Abba-Kassim Yusuf noted that after the 2019 general elections, the Command has been consistent in revenue generation, pointing out that in March, “we were able to surpass our monthly target with N345,672,879.32 which he says, outshine that of March 2018 with N 475, 192,799. 89.
He stated further, that, in April, this year the Command also generated N69,046,333.72 which he said, “beat that of April 2018 with N175,613,157.93. And in May 2019 we again surpassed our monthly target with N39, 251,249.17 which is also better than that of May last year with N145, 992,344.14”.
He thereby reiterated the Command’s commitment to restrategize with the view to apprehend economic saboteurs who were poised at sabotaging the nation’s economy by resorting to cutting corners, through aggressive anti-smuggling response as part of the Comptroller General of Customs zero tolerance to smuggling.
The Customs Boss enjoined journalists at the Media briefing to spread the gospel to the criminal elements, to steer clear of the Command, just as he said, “no stone will be left unturned to apprehend the suspected smugglers, as it will be a negative story to them because we are positioned to seal off and check all excesses of their smuggling activities”.
The Customs Area Controller assurred that the Command will play a positive role to those who are ready to carry out their legitimate Businesses, as Trade facilitation is one of his cardinal points, stressing that the Command is ever ready to support the stakeholders who are ready to follow the laid down rules and regulations of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Speaking further, Abba- Kassim Yusuf said
the Command is not relenting on its efforts to surpass its recorded successes last year, particularly since his assumption of duty at the Niger/ Kwara/ Kogi Area Command as Customs Area Controller.
He also assured that the Command is on the threshold of maintaining the tempo by surpassing its monthly target which outcome would transcend on the year’s target.
While speaking on the Anti-Smuggling/Enforcement efforts of the Command, he noted that in August 2018, the Command was having only 12 Serviceable patrol vehicles, adding that no sooner that he took over as the Command’s Area Controller that he swung into action with the determination to flush out die-hard smugglers off the Command.
“With the support of the management team, led by Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) we were able to increase our patrol vehicles from 12 to 23 patrol vehicles.
“Out of Seventeen 17 vehicles that were unserviceable, Seven were brought back to work. I immediately deployed them for patrol activities which resulted to 48 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N78,975,920”, he declared .
The breakdown of seized goods at the Niger/ Kwara/ Kogi States Customs Area Command between the period of his assumption of office as Area Controller since last year till date, revealed 42 seizures of Rice totaling about 2,919 bags with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N 54, 279, 300.00
Others, according to him, include 29 seizures of used vehicles( Tokunbo Vehicles) with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N 23, 780, 300, while others were 22 Bales of Secondhand Clothing with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N 792,000.
Abba- Kassim Yusuf disclosed further that the Command also made seizure of other items such as Sugar, Used Tyres, Vegetable Oil, foot wears among others with duty paid value of N 281,320,000.
Accordingly, he said, this month, (July 2019)the Command has recorded three different seizures of Rice, totaling 189Bags with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N 3,213,000, in addition with Six tyres Truck marked MNA 691 XV suspected to be carryiing 300 Bags of Rice which was intercepted with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N5,100,000.00
“Also, a Mitsubishi Canter with REG NO XC 112 BDU suspecting to be conveying 100 Bags of Rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,700,000.00 was also arrested within this month”, he maintained.
Abba- Kassim Yusuf thereby reiterated the Command’s resolve to rid the Niger/Kwara/Kogi States axis off recalcitrant and unpatriotic Nigerians whom he said, “engage in smuggling activities”, emphasizing that the ban on importation of Rice and fairly used Vehicles through the border is still in place while the Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command is committed to enforcing this to the letters.
He also expressed his gratitude to Officers and Men of Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command, including the incumbent Management/ Leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) for equipping the Area Command with the wherewithal needed to make its operations more effective and efficient.
