The Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS’) Seme Command has reported a N3.1 billion revenue from January–October 31, 2023, thereby surpassing its revenue target by N1.966 billion or 55.1% for the 2023 fiscal year.
The command also facilitated the export of a total of 41, 867.88 metric tonnes of non-oil export products within the period, which comprise 1,048 trucks of export products with Free On-Board (FOB) value of N8.3billion as well as collected N41.5 million under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) while a total of N40.5 million was collected a surcharge under the review period.
Similarly, the Command, during the review period, intensified its anti-smuggling operations, which led to the seizure of 168 live parrots, one hawk and porcupines, which remained prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which Nigeria is a signatory to.
This is in addition to other seizures made by the Command in the last two months, which comprised 3, 805 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, which is equivalent to seven trailer loads, 1, 756 jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which is equivalent to 52, 680 litres or about two petroleum tankers, 1, 379 pieces of general merchandise goods, a total of 40 parcels of cannabis sativa, also called Indian Hemp and two pieces of used vehicles, among several others.
The total duty paid value DPV of all the seized items has been put at N326.3 million even as six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
Briefing journalists at the Command office on the activities and revenue generated, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, attributed the performance to the measures put in place when he assumed duty on September 18, 2023.
According to him, the collaboration of stakeholders, especially the synergy that exists between all the security agencies operating at the joint border equally played a major role in the seizures.
He thanked the Comptroller-General of the service, Adewale Adeniyi, for his support and encouragement without which this superlative performance would not have been possible.
The Comptroller said: “I wish to once again welcome you all to the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, and seat of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, the foremost frontier for trade in West and Central Africa Area Command and one of the busiest boundary lines in Africa to brief you on some of the achievements recorded since I took over on September 18, 2023 to date.
“Upon my assumption of duty, I pledged to adopt sustainable ways and means of dealing with smuggling, while the focus will be on using administrative and strategic levels to block revenue leakages.
“I also promised to encourage compliant traders and our host communities along the corridor, bearing in mind the challenges of the Joint Border Post as one that is still adjusting to the reality of the border closure. We have kept faith within government, as talks are ongoing at the highest level to regularise the situation.
“Let me appreciate the Comptroller General of Customs for his support to the command and also appreciate the Seme-Badagry community for their cooperation and to the officers and men of the command for their gallantry and patriotism. Our greatest appreciation goes to the media for highlighting our modest efforts in the command”, Bomodi added.
