Kebbi Customs generated N13m in one month, seized N84.2m contraband –Controller

From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi

The Kebbi State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has generated the sum of N13,378,002 within a month and seized smuggled goods worth about N84,219,654.

Customs Area Controller, Kebbi State Command,Comptroller Chidi Chukwumeziri, confirmed this during a  conference  at the command’s headquarters, Birnin Kebbi.

  He explained that, in spite of the huge setback occasioned by the closure of major borders, Tsamiya/Sebgana, his Command has been able to generate revenue through only one authorized and official Border, Kamba.

According to him, “ through collaboration and partnership with our Niger Republic Counterpart, the seamless flow of cross border trade was achieved. And based on that, even when trade was below expectations, the Command was able to generate N13,378,002 within one month, which is slightly better than what it was”.

Speaking on the anti-smuggling activities,Chukwumeziri explained that due to the synergy with stakeholders and other security agencies,his Command has been able to curbing the activities of smugglers and their syndicates.

  “Though, smuggling, considering the peculiar nature of our borders, cannot be completed eradicated, all the Agencies are working so hard to reduce it to the barest minimum. And it was based on these collaboration, cooperation and intelligence sharing with Sister Agencies. alongside the combativeness of our field Officers, that the Command was able to make the following seizures within one month:   “145 Bales of Used Second-Hand Clothings, 13,750 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),114 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, 20 cartons of New Light Cigarette, 70 Biggy Vanilla Wafer Biscuit (Expired), 27 Cartons of Sunwatt (AA) Dry Battery (expired), 40 Bags of Foreign Sugar of 50kg each, among others.

  “The Duty Paid Value of the seized items is N84,219,654. Equally,on the area of suppressing the smuggling of Petroleum products, the command was able to confiscate 13,730 litres of PMS with fees value of N5,500,000. And this is usually auctioned to the public and the proceeds paid into the Federal Government’s coffers”, he said.

While commending the efforts of the Command,State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Alhaji Muideen F. Suleiman noted that the Nigeria Customs Service has been a leading Federal government agency for them and they would continue to work  harmoniously with their officers to achieve a common goal.