Despite the current financial strains affecting businesses and citizens in the country, the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through a streamlined procedures and revenue from Excise duty has generated a total revenue of ₦23,974,543,014.49 (Twenty-Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Five Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, and Fourteen Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo) within the third quarter of the year 2024.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Dr Ben Oramalugo, disclosed this on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, during a press briefing with newsmen held at the command's headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo state
According to him, “This achievement which reflects a 27.5% increase over the sum of ₦17,377,387,591.90 (Seventeen Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Seven Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-One Naira, Ninety Kobo) generated in the corresponding period of 2023, is a testament of the command's officers and men's resilience and dedication to ensure strict compliance to customs laws and regulations in facilitating legitimate trade.
The CAC in his speech said, “Cumulatively, for the period covering January to September 2024 the Command has generated the sum of ₦56,656,828,685.30 (Fifty-Six Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Niara, Thirty Kobo). This also reflects a 7.85% increase when compared to the sum of ₦52,206,458,966.50 (Fifty-Two Billion, Two Hundred and Six Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six Niara, Fifty Kobo) generated in the corresponding period of January to September 2023".
In the area of Anti Smuggling, the command, according to Dr. Oramalugo within the period under review while curbing illegal cross border activities and through it's intelligence driven operations and collaborations with local communities intercepted and seized various contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦755,896,700.00 Seven Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira Only.
Among the items seized includes, 433 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 61 bales and 10 sacks of used clothings, 93 pieces of used tyres, 49 sacks (744.9kg) of Cannabis sativa, 8,850 litres of Premium motor spirit (PMS) and assorted fake pharmaceuticals.
The Area Controller pointed out that these anti smuggling operations not only safeguard Nigeria's economy but tends to protect local industries and create and environment where legitimate businesses can thrive especially in the face of the prevailing economic hardship.
“Our duty is to ensure that the country’s borders are secure from illegal trade and that all revenue due to the government is collected efficiently. In a bid to sustain and improve on these successes, the Command remains committed to improving our performance in all areas, including the facilitation of legitimate trade, which contributes directly to economic growth, and sustaining the integrity of our anti-smuggling operations. The Oyo/Osun Area Command will continue to work with all stakeholders, including the local communities, security agencies and traders, leverage on the use of modern technology, build capacity of our officers, so they are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to confront emerging threats and maximize operational efficiency and continue public sensitization campaigns to ensure that we achieve our goals” the CAC affirmed.
The Command, in accordance with the policy thrust of Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, of Consolidation, Collaboration and innovation handed over fake pharmaceuticals with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦596,856,500.00k (Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only) to the representatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) while the 49 sacks of Cannabis Sativa with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of (₦46,935,000.00k) Forty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand Naira Only to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
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