Kehinde Ayanboade,
Ibadan.
The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has revealed its achievement to have generated the total of Thirty Four Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty Six Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty Seven Naira and Eighty kobo (N34,686,875,967.80k) as revenue in the year 2019.
This huge sum of revenue gives 59 percent increment against the sum of Twenty – One Billion realized by the command in 2018.
The Anti – Smuggling agency has also recovered numerous number of smuggled goods which includes the total of 2,540 Bags of foreign rice, bales of second hands clothing, 12 fairly used Vehicles, and other contraband goods from smugglers.
Zonal Comptroller in charge of the Command, Comp. Abdullahi Zulkifli made this known while addressing newsmen at a press briefing held to showcase the activities and successes recorded by the command in the year 2019.
Comp. Zulkifli in his address, described the border closure exercise as a commendable effort which has continue to assist the country in terms of National security, curbing of illegal migration, encouragement of local farmers, and patronage of domestically manufactured goods in Nigeria.
He further noted that the act of smuggling cannot be eradicated in our communities but can only be reduced to the nearest minimum level.
He added that barely would someone seen a foreign rice displayed in our market adding that smuggling rate has reduced drastically.
Goods seized by the command in the year 2019 are 2,540 (50kg) bags of foreign rice, 12 Fairly used Vehicles, 15 Bags of Sugar, 40 Bales of Second Hand Clothes, 500 pieces of Motor tyres, 3 motorcycles and 25 means of conveyance with the Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Hundred and Forty Two Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand, One Hundred and Thirteen Naira (N142,896,113.00k).
The comptroller significantly note the seizure of 1,040 SK Blocks, with 101 Bags of Cannabis Sativa arrested on the 29th of September, 2019 with the Duty Paid Value put at One hundred and Fifty Nine Million and Seventy Thousand (N159,070,000.00k).
Moreover, 24 suspects were arrested in connection to these seizures of which 21 are on administrative bail, 1 charged to court and 2 convicted.
Meanwhile, the Command further enjoined Nigerians to take advantages of various Federal government’s programs on Agriculture and other empowerment programs to key into legitimate business and means of livelihood.
