The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Niger/Kwara/Kogi Area Command said that it intercepted no fewer than seven hundred and thirty-two (732) bags of rice, eleven (11) vehicles and one hundred and seventy-five (175) litres of vegetable oil between January and March this year.
The Customs Area Comptroller for Niger, Kwara and Kogi states, Yusuf Abba Kassim, made this disclosure while addressing a press conference in Minna, the Niger State capital.
He also disclosed that the command generated a total of eight hundred and fourteen million, seven hundred and fifty-five thousand, five hundred and sixty-three Naira eighty-six kobo (N814, 755, 563.86) in three months.
He maintained that the command during the same period recorded a total seizure of 16 comprising rice, vegetable oil and used vehicles with a total DPV put at N19, 120,700.
Kassim said, “On enforcing compliance of smuggling activities, the command recorded a total seizure of 16 comprising of rice, vegetable oil and used vehicles.”
Speaking further, he said, “I recognise the critical role the media can play especially in the area of sensitisation and enlightenment to all our stakeholders and the society at large. This is why I have called this briefing to partner with the media in order to achieve willful compliance from the public as well as to showcase what the Command is doing, our activities and the success recorded within the first three months of the year,
“The Command has two (2) approved border stations, Chikanda in Kwara State and Babanna in Niger State with the core function of suppressing smuggling; The Command equally engages in trade facilitation and Border Security and it is working hard to bring other excisable factories within its axis under Customs Control through market surveillance.
“In spite of lull in business activities due to 2019 general elections, between January to March this year, the Command has generated Eight Hundred and Fourteen Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Five thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-Three Naira Eighty-Six kobo (N814, 755, 563.86) which is the highest in the past three years, even when the Command is yet to receive official communication of the revenue target for the fiscal year 2019.”
He said the Command is determined to surpass the target set that might be for it by the management adding that they are hoping for better result this year.
