Despite the critical stage of economic recovery (post COVID-19 era), the Oyo/Osun Customs Command said it has generated the sum of N39,990,033,122.70 (Thirty Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety Million, Thirty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Twelve Naira, Seventy Kobo Only) between January and September, 2020.
This said amount was out of the N62,848,518,366.93 allotted to the Area Command for 2020 fiscal year.
Speaking to news men at the command head office in Ibadan, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the Command , Comptroller Uche Ngozi (Mrs) said that the amount collected when compared with the revenue collected between January and September 2019, the command has 33.3% increase in its revenue collection despite the ongoing pandemic.
Disclosing that the Command shall strive to achieve the balance of the target before the end of the 2020 fiscal year, she added that the CGC has implemented policies to ensure that all forms of smuggling across borders are suppressed, legitimate trade is facilitated, and maximum revenue collected and accounted for.
On the Commands anti-smuggling drive, she said “it is my pleasure to inform you that we have not lost sight of the very important function of the fight against smuggling. We have sharpened our intelligence, re-strategized, created new patrol teams and drawn a more robust Area of Responsibility (AOR) chart to help combat these illicit activities.
” In line with Customs and Excise Management Act Cap.C45 LFN 2004 (CEMA) which guides the operations of the service, we have conducted our duties with professionalism and efficiency” she added.
Highlighting the seizures made within the period under review, she said “In this period under review, the Command made a number of detentions and seizures among which are: Two Hundred and Sixty Five (265) kegs of 25 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) which would be auctioned and proceeds remitted accordingly. One (1) Truck containing 600 bags of NPK 12-12-17 2MgO fertilizer, apprehended along Igbeti axis of Oyo State without necessary regulatory document. The truck with the product has since been detained pending the provision of necessary document.
“Another Eight Hundred (800) bags of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer which has been converted to seizure after failure to produce the required document within the 90 days grace period with a DPV of N18,702,000 (Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Two Thousand Naira Only), 2270 bags of 50kg each of Foreign Parboiled rice with DPV of N96,055,050 (Ninety Six Million and Fifty-Five Thousand and Fifty Naira Only), Twenty Six kegs of 25 litres each of foreign parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value of N530,692 (Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Two Naira Only) and Fourteen (14) sacks containing 28 bags of concealed rice with a Duty Paid Value of N1,213,030 (One Million, Two Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Thirty Naira) only”
She highlighted other seizures to include: Twenty (20) kegs of 25 litres each of Vegetable Oil with a DPV of N219,420 (Two Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Naira Only), Sixty (60) bales of Second Hand Clothing with DPV of N11,519,550 (Eleven Million, Five Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Naira Only) and Three Hundred and Fourteen (314) units of used Tyres with DPV of N3,681,995 (Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Five Naira Only)
Also seized were vehicles used as means of conveyance for some of the seizures which include 5 units of used Mazda 323 with DPV of N6,518,140; 1 unit of used Volkswagen Golf with DPV of N1,303,62 ; 1 unit of used DAF Truck with DPV of N7,242,375; 3 units of used Nissan Micra with a DPV of N2,232,714; 12 units of used Motorcycles with a DPV of N2,194,200 and 1 unit of used Suzuki Bus with a DPV of N1,448,475.
Comptroller Ngozi however said that the achievements recorded were made possible by the resilient and vigilant officers of the Area Command, some of whom are being transferred currently to other commands.
“Their gallantry effort and experience have been really appreciated in service to this Command” she added.
