…Seizes N67m Worth of Goods in One week
The Ag. Controller of Federal Operations Unity Zone ‘A’ , DC Usman Yahaya, has continued to live up to his statutory responsibilities especially in the area of anti-smuggling operations.
Barely a week of his resumption as the Acting Controller of the Unit , the Enforcement Czar in his quest for outstanding performance using credible intelligence has begun to yield positive results with the interception of various contra ban goods ranging from 2,065 jerrycans of vegetable oil of (25litres each), 1,185 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 1500 jerrycans (25lts each ) of diesel all amounting to a Duty Paid Value of N67,362,500.00 .The seizures were made between January 7th to 14th, 2020.
The goods, according to a press statement made available by the units spokes person, Jerry Attah , were seized along different unapproved routes within the Unit’s areas of coverage.
The statement also reads that the feat is coming as a result of series of meetings held with their Sectional Heads, Team/patrol Leaders where the Controller had unveiled the management’s mandate bestowed on him. Which includes blockage of all revenue leakages, trade facilitation and intensification of anti-smuggling operations at various entrypoints, Seaports, land borders and Airports within their areas of jurisdiction in the south west zone.
The units boss, as stated in the release also warned smugglers and other duty evaders of the dangers that lies ahead for them if they do not engage in legitimate trade, as some have started counting their losses.
“You will agree with me that the fight against smuggling can only be won if all hands are on deck”.he said
Yahaya also called on the media and the general public to support the fight against smuggling by providing necessary intelligence that could assist the Service in reducing smuggling to its barest minimum.
Meanwhile, DC Yahaya’s redeployment was part of the Comptroller-General’s strategy to rejig and reposition the Service for greater efficiency and effectiveness, especially in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation as well as combating smuggling.
Deputy Comptroller Usman Yahaya is a quintessential and an enforcement guru who hitherto was the Coordinator of Strike Force, Zone ‘A’, before he was posted to FOU ‘A’ as the Acting Controller.
He took over on Tuesday 7th January 2020, from Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed, who was elevated to a new assignment as the Acting Sector 4 Commander of Border DrillOperations code named Ex-Swift Response.
The assumption of office by Usman Yahaya at FOU ‘A’ has sent panic to all smugglers and non-compliant traders knowing very well his antecedents as an enforcement Czar. He however thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management team of the Nigeria Customs Service for considering him worthy and assured he will work assiduously with all officers to justify the confidence reposed on him.
