The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated into the Federal Government coffers the sum of N11.67 billion in the months of September and October 2023.
This was revealed by the Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo during a press briefing at the weekend.
Oramalugo said during the period under review, the Command also intercepted smuggled goods and contrabands worth N51.2 million.
Oramalugo took over leadership of the Oyo/Osun Area Command in September 2023.
He noted that under his leadership, several laudable achievements had been recorded, which were aimed at enhancing and facilitating trade, driving up revenue generation and suppression of smuggled and prohibited goods within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR).
He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi for his support and efforts to ensure the realisation of the Command’s mandate in suppressing smuggling in the area through provision of operational vehicles and motivational leadership.
He said: “When added to the revenue collected for the period covering January to August 2023, the Command has collected a sum of ₦59 billion. This feat is made possible by our resolve to continue to prioritize trade facilitation, religiously enforce provisions of our extant laws aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, implementation of various measures to simplify Customs processes, reducing bureaucracy within the system with the aim of promoting legitimate trade and foster a conducive business environment for Excise traders operating within the Command’s area of responsibility.
“During the period under review, the Command with use of intelligence and continuous patrol/enforcement operations has made series of interceptions comprising 1,248 (50kg) bags of rice with duty paid value of N27.4 million; 425 (25 Litres kegs) with DPV of N2.12 millon; 24 bales of used cloths and used bags valued at N 4.5 million; and 492 pieces of used tires with DPV of N3 million. Other seized goods are 64 sacks of Indian hemp weighing 777.5kg and valued at N 14.1 million and a dane gun. These seized items have a total DPV of N51.18 million.”
Oramalugo noted the importance of collaboration and inter-agency cooperation with relevant Federal Government agencies and trade associations, as well as necessary consultations and engagements which the command held to address concerns, gather feedbacks and ensure a harmonized approach to Customs operations.
The Customs Controller warned individuals with nefarious intentions aimed at sabotaging the economic development of the country to stay steer clear of the Command’s coverage area, as all available resources in accordance with all Extant laws as enshrined in the new Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023 would be deployed not only to frustrate them but ensure such economic saboteurs are brought to justice.
“We therefore, solicit the assistance of well-meaning Nigerians and members of general public to provide useful information which can be used to apprehend economic saboteurs within their environment, to the Area Command so as to improve Command’s service delivery, rid our society of all economic saboteurs and to safeguard our great country Nigeria,” he said.
