Ogun Customs Area 1 seizes 6,743 bags of imported rice, other goods worth DPV of ₦231.2m in 2 months ...Organises 3-day seminar for border stakeholders
ProwlingEagles
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23
By Adetokunbo Fakeye
The Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, between January and February, 2023 through its relentless anti-smuggling campaign recorded 115 seizures which include 6,743 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg, which is an equivalence of 11 trailer loads.
The Command Comptroller, Bamidele Makinde fsi mni psc(+), who announced this today, Tuesday 14th March, 2023 while briefing newsmen in his office at Idiroko border town said, "some of the other seizures recorded during the period under review include the following:
a. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS): 19,806 liters
b. Used vehicles used for the conveyance of smuggled goods: 18 Units.
c. Cannabis Sativa: 64 sacks and 824 wraps of book, bread and coconut sizes
d. Artifact: 10 big pieces and 19 small pieces
e. Motorcycles used for the conveyance of prohibited items: one Unit
f. Secondhand clothing: 73 bales
g. Foreign used shoes: 14 sacks
h. Foreign used tyres: 900 pieces
i. Frozen Poultry products: 520 cartons.
According to him, the seizures were made at different locations such as Abeokuta axis, Ilaro axis and Ipokia/Idiroko axis, among others.
He gave the total Duty Payable Value (DPV) of the seizures as ₦231,218,506.00.
The Command in its Stakeholders’ Engagement/Corperate Social Responsibility organised a 3-day Art for Economic Development program with the theme “Nigeria Customs Service Enabling a Secure Border Trade” in collaboration with The Integration Art Palace and Tour.
Below is the full briefing by the Comptroller:
PRESS BRIEFING ON JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2023 ACTIVITIES OF OGUN 1 AREA COMMAND OF NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE BY THE CUSTOMS AREA CONTROLLER, COMPTROLLER BAMIDELE MAKINDE fsi mni psc(+) HELD AT ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE ON TUESDAY 14 MARCH 2023 AT 1120 HOURS
1. Gentlemen of the Press, I welcome you all to Abeokuta to showcase our score card between January and February 2023. This cuts across our core mandate of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling and trade facilitation in Ogun State.
2. Revenue Generation. The Command generated a total sum of N28,445,757.00 through import duties, auction sales of scrap vehicles and Petroleum products. I will like to reiterate that the revenue activities of the Command comprises importation and exportation of legitimate goods, goods under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and assessment of merchandise in baggage.
3. Suppression of Smuggling.
The relentless anti-Smuggling campaign of the Command has continued to improve our seizure profile. In the period under review, the Command recorded 115 seizures which include 6,743 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each which is an equivalence of 11 trailer loads. Some of the other seizures recorded during the period under review include the following:
a. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS): 19,806 liters
b. Used vehicles used for the conveyance of smuggled goods: 18 Units.
c. Cannabis Sativa: 64 sacks and 824 wraps of book, bread and coconut sizes
d. Artifact: 10 big pieces and 19 small pieces
e. Motorcycles used for the conveyance of prohibited items: one Unit
f. Secondhand clothing: 73 bales
g. Foreign used shoes: 14 sacks
h. Foreign used tyres: 900 pieces
i. Frozen Poultry products: 520 cartons.
4. The seizures were made at different locations such as Abeokuta axis, Ilaro axis and Ipokia/Idiroko axis, among others. The total Duty Payable Value (DPV) of the seizures is N231,218,506.00.
5. Facilitation of Trade. The Command is committed to facilitating legitimate trade. We value the business community and their contribution to the economy of the nation. We assure them of our continuous support in all aspect of their trading activities.
However, we urge them to avoid any form of illicit trade that could adversely affect the economy and tarnish their reputation. May I use this opportunity to warn recalcitrant and would be smugglers steer clear of smuggling activities. Anyone caught in the act shall be made to face the full weight of the law.
6. Stakeholders’ Engagement/Corperate Social Responsibility. The Integration Art Palace and Tour in collaboration with the Command organized a 3-day Art for Economic Development program with the theme “Nigeria Customs Service Enabling a Secure Border Trade”.
The programme, which is part of the Command’s Corperate Social Responsibility (CSR), took place from 10th to 14th February 2023. Its objective is to promote trade using art work.
The participants, who were secondary school students and artisans, were given the leverage to exhibit their talents. Four of the students who distinguished themselves were given awards of excellence to further encourage them to develop their skills.
The Command also used the avenue to educate the participants on the activities of Customs in Ogun State, benefits of legitimate trade and the dangers inherent in smuggling activities.
7. The Command has continued to maintain a good community relations with the Traditional Rulers, Community leaders and the Youths, etc. We are also committed to maintaining synergy with our sister agencies across the State. We appreciate the collaboration and cooperation of everyone which has engendered peaceful coexistence in the Communities and their environs.
8. The Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) CFR, has always overwhelmingly supported the anti-smuggling campaign of the Service and this has had a huge impact on the performances and achievements recorded by Commands, Units and other Customs formations across the nation. Our Area Command, in particular, has benefitted immensely from such support and sterling leadership. May I use this medium to appreciate him and his Management Team.
9. Let me once again appreciate our critical stakeholders such as the traditional rulers, community leaders, and other security agencies who are showing concern and are collaborating with the Service for their continuous support. May I also thank and appreciate the press for being objective in their news report.
10. Thank you for listening. God bless you and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
