Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Command have declared a 65% increase in revenue within two months of review, with 6,924 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice seized from smugglers within Idiroko border and his environs.
This was disclosed yesterday by the Ogun 1 Area Controller, Controller Bamidele Makinde at the Command headquarters in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Commander Makinde said, “the sum of N34,174,105.00 was generated as revenue. Compared to N10,615,618.00 generated in the corresponding period of last year, 2022, there is a differential of N23,558,487.00 which is a significant increase of about 69%.”
He added that, “ During the period under review, the Command, through the DC Revenue, engaged compliant traders and deliberated on how their business activities could be further enhanced through our trade facilitation mechanism. At the conclusion of consultations and deliberations, recommendations and suggestions were made. All of them shall be implemented and, hopefully, this will lead to increase in export trade which would, in turn contribute to increasing our revenue and national GDP.”
The Controller commended his men for their patriotism and gallantly subdue unscrupulous traders who engaged in illicit trade during the period under review and was able to record spectacular seizures.
He said, “For example, our vigilant officers intercepted and made a seizure of 3 foreign used luxury buses which were being smuggled in the country through Ohumbe border on 15th of May, 2023. Two Toyota Hiace buses of 2022 model, with chassis number JTHN9CPOP6018610 and JTGHN9CP7P6019835, were also intercepted and seized by our eagle-eyed officers on a bush path between Sawojo and Imasayi communities, on Monday, 29th May, 2023. Other seizures recorded are 6,924 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, which is equivalent to 11 trailer loads; PMS; Used Tyres; Cannabis Sativa; and other prohibited items.”
Controller Bamidele also disclosed that the total Duty Payable Value (DPV) of the seizures is N335,855,989.00, adding that the seizures were made with strategic deployment of intelligence across the State.
He commended the efforts of sister security agencies for their maximum co-operation, emphasizing that the command was able to achieve a great deal with their co-operation and team work.