From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated N144.9 million revenue and impounded illegal goods from smugglers Worth’s N23.1 million within the month of March, 2023.
The Command’s Comptroller, Dr Ben Oramalugo, who confirmed this during a press conference at the command’s headquarters, stated that the achievement was made possible through the collaboration of stakeholders and gallant efforts of his officers.
“In the month of March under review, we were able to generate a sum of ₦144,862,372. This represents 164% of our monthly target despite elections that took place in the month which undoubtedly affected the volume of import of goods into the country,” Dr Oranmalugo stated.
“As the efforts we put in place continue to translate to positive outcome, we hope to record steady rise in the Command’s revenue in the coming months throughout the year. We are hopeful of meeting, if not surpassing, the Command’s annual target of one billion, fifty eight million, seven hundred and two thousand four hundred and sixty six naira (₦1,058,702,466).
“We are now exploring ways on how to address a major challenge identified by our stakeholders of multiple taxation from our neighbouring countries before their goods arrive at Kamba, the only border currently open under this Command”.
While speaking on the anti smuggling activities, Oramalugo,disclosed that N23,141,803 worth of duty paid value of illegal goods were seized from smugglers.
According to him, “On the wee hours of Wednesday, 29th March, 2023, we received credible intelligence of ongoing smuggling activities of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at an AP filling station at Yauri in Yauri Local Government of Kebbi State. I instantly detailed my officers and men to rush to the scene, stop the illegal activity and seal up the filling station.
“The joint patrol teams, upon arriving at the filling station, engaged in skilled mode operation by cordoning off the entire area, sealing the filling station and started evacuation of all the kegs of PMS already loaded for onward smuggling out of the country through one of the waterways in Yauri.
“While the evacuation was ongoing, the criminals who had fled the scene upon sighting our vehicles, later mobilized themselves and came back with some thugs in order to resist the evacuation, but our men stood their ground until we received reinforcement from the Nigerian Army who helped us in dispersing the crowd.
“We were able to eventually evacuate 304 kegs of PMS of 25 liters each, sealed up the filling station along with (6) petrol tankers inside. Investigation is now ongoing”.
He listed other prohibited items seized during the month to includes; 16,375 liters of PMS
210 cartons of foreign spaghetti,34 bales of second hand clothes,109 cartons of confectionaries, among others.
He said: “The Duty Paid Value of the seized items is N23,141,803”, he said.
Oramalugo however warned smugglers and their collaborators in the state to desist from their nefarious acts saying that ,”we will not fold our arms and allow any filling station to be used as a conduit pipe for smuggling PMS out of the country.
“Our government pays heavily to subsidize the product for our citizens which makes it illegal and morally reprehensible for few individuals to divert it for their own aggrandizement. We remain resolute in frustrating their illegal ventures as we are morally and logistically equipped and have the gallantry to scuttle all their activities.”