The Kwara state command of the Nigerian Customs Service has generated the sum of N6, 906,416,022.11 between January to December 2020, which represent 86% of the year annual target as against N2, 404,318,043.00 in the year 2019. From the above record, it shows that there was an increase of N 4,502,097,979.11 in the year 2020 compared to what was generated in the year 2019.
The Controller Kwara Area Command, Comptroller Ahmed Hussaini Bello disclosed this while giving a scorecard of the command for the period of 2020 under review.
Comptroller Ahmed said that the COVID-19 pandemic that came with lockdown, the EndSARS protests and partial border closure were the reasons for not meeting the stipulated last year budget, added that placement of temporary embargo on the movement of goods and persons through the land borders nationwide was another reason.
He added that the anti-smuggling operations recorded a total of 84 seizures with the duty paid value DPV of N345million as against the same period in 2019 with only 14 seizures with duty paid value of N42.6million.
The seizures include the following-
- 3,551 Bags of foreign parboiled rice (Approximately Five (5) Trailers of Rice)
- 51 Used Vehicles of various make
- 3,543 Kg of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa)
- 225 Kegs of vegetable oil
- 30 Jerricans of PMS
And Six (6) suspects were arrested during the period under review.
“I want to use this great opportunity to appeal to well-meaning members of the public who will want to engage in legitimate business to come forward for clarification or visit the command Headquarters for trade facilitation and other enquiries.
The recalcitrant ones who still insist on engaging in the illicit business of smuggling should be well advised that they will not escape the long arm of the law.”
According to him, the command shall ensure that maximum revenue collection is realized as directed by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), while the policy on suppression of smuggling activities, blockage of revenue leakages without compromising national interest and security of the Nation would not be compromised.
The Comptroller also recalled the unfortunate 2020 episode when the Command came under attack by hoodlums disguised as EndSARS protesters with an obvious intention of looting and setting the Command and government properties ablaze, adding that during the mob action, two of the officers of the Command were injured, while 27 motorcycles and two Keke Napeps meant to move goods out of the Command were seized and two suspects also arrested.
Suzan O
