The Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara State Command, Kehinde Ilesanmi says the command generated N6.2 billion between April and June, 2023.
According to him, this amount represents 9.14 percent of the revenue increment compared to preceding year, 2022.
Ilesanmi disclosed this in Ilorin, the state capital while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command in the second quarter of 2023.
“The Command has at the end of the second quarter 2023, generated the sum of N 6, 246, 485,827.97. This amount represent 9.14% of the revenue increment compared to preceding year 2022,” the Customs boss declared.
He added that the command under his watch between January and June this year has collected and remitted the sum of N9, 813,483,412.09 to the federation account.
“This amount is above what was collected from (January-June, 2022) with the sum of N5,762,552,633.87,”he stated.
Ilesanmi stated that the results of the command’s anti-smuggling activities coupled with its renewed drive in utilization of cutting edge strategies had led to 56 seizures of different items with Duty Paid Value (DPV) N48,822,400.00.
He listed items seized during the period under review to include
9 units of used vehicles of different types, 813 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 24,950 litres of petroleum product in 998 Jerry cans and 14 kegs of vegetable oil of 25 litres.
According to him, the seizures were successfully accomplished as a result of the renewed determination of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to rid the country of all forms of illegal importation.
He added that these positive harvests in the areas of anti-smuggling and revenue generation are a clear testimony of what can be achieved under a brand new leadership of the Service.
He therefore called on Nigerians, the media in particular to support the Command by providing credible information that will help nip smuggling in the bud.
He recalled that he took over the leadership of the Command in January this year adding that under his watch, (January-June, 2023) the Command collected and remitted the sum of N9, 813,483,412.09 to federation account. This amount is above what was collected from (January-June, 2022) with the sum of N 5,762,552,633.87.
Anti Smuggling
Ilesanmi disclosed that the Federal Government Policies on Agricultural Development in the area of boosting local rice production had “sustained our fight against smuggling activities, and fueled our resolve to do more.“
He assured Nigerians that the fight against anti-smuggling will continue with sustained momentum and determination to make more seizure will not abate.
According to him, the results of the commands anti-smuggling activities coupled with it’s renewed drive in utilization of cutting edge strategies had led to Fifty-Six (56) seizures of different items with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Forty-Eight Million Eight Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand Four Hundred Naira (N48,822,400.00)
Items seized include:
9 Units of used vehicles of different types 813 Bags of foreign parboiled rice of (50kg each) That is more than a Canter mini truck load of rice 24,950 litres of petroleum product in 998 kegs (almost a trailer load), 14kegs of vegetable oil of 25 litres
He therefore warned economic saboteurs to steer clear of Kwara Area Command and engage in meaningful ventures or else they would meet their waterloo.
Ilesanmi commended the patriotic collaboration and tremendous assistance the command always receive from traditional leaders, eminent personalities and some host communities including members of the press in their resolute drive against smuggling in the overall interest of our dear nation.
