Customs in Niger,Kwara,Kogi rakes N1.7bn for FG .Surpasses revenue target with over N32.6m

Customs in Niger,Kwara,Kogi rakes N1.7bn for FG

.Surpasses revenue target with over N32.6m

By Udeme Clement

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in Niger,Kwara,Kogi Command has made outstanding performance in revenue collection for 2019, with a whooping sum of N1.7billion realised from January to June.

The Command also surpassed its monthly revenue target with more than N 32.6million.

The Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Command, Comptroller Abba-Kassim Yusuf disclosed this through the Public Relations Officer, PRO. Mr. Lomba.

He explained that the N1.7billion generated in half year of 2019 is out of a revenue target of N 3billion given to the Command, which represents 56 percent of the annual target.

He informed, “Like any other month, the Command was able to surpass the monthly target with N 32.6million. 

His assertions, “After 2019 general election, the Command has been consistent in revenue generation. In March, we surpassed our monthly target with N 345,672,879.32, which outshines that of March  2018 with N 475, 192,799. 89. In April with N 69,046,333.72, which beats that of April 2018 with N 175,613,157.93.  In May 2019, we also surpassed our monthly target with N39, 251,249.17, which is also better than that of May last year with N145, 992,344.14.

 “The Command is on the threshold of maintaining the tempo by surpassing its monthly target, which outcome would transcend on the year’s target”.

On anti-smuggling and enforcement activities, the CAC pointed out, “In August 2018, the Command had 12 serviceable patrol vehicles. Immediately I took over, I swung into action with the determination to flush out die-hard smugglers from our area of coverage. With the support of CGC Ali Hameed and his Management team, we were able to increase our patrol vehicles 23.

“Out of 17 vehicles that were un-serviceable, 7 were brought back to work. I immediately deployed them for patrol activities, which resulted to 48 seizures with Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N 78.9million.

“Below is the breakdown of seized goods-

• 42 seizures of Rice 2,919bags N 54.2million;

29 seizures of used vehicles N 23. 7million;

22 bales of secondhand clothing with DPV of N 792,000. The Command also made seizures of other items such as Sugar, Used Tyres, Vegetable Oil and foot wears worth N281,320,000.

“This month of July, 2019, the Command recorded 3 different seizures, such as 189 bags of rice with  DPV N 3.2million; 6 tyres truck with REG. NO MNA 691 XV with 300 bags of rice N5.1million; also, a Mitsubishi Canter with REG NO XC 112 BDU conveyed 100 bags of rice N1.7million”.  

He emphasized, “I will like to use this opportunity to reiterate the Command’s resolve to rid the Niger/Kwara/Kogi states axis off recalcitrant and unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in smuggling activities. The ban on importation of rice, fairly used vehicles through the border is still in place and the Command is committed to enforcing this to the later.

“I remain grateful to Officers and Men of the Command, the current Management under the dynamic leadership of CGC Ali Hameed, for equipping us with work tools needed to make our operations more effective and efficient.

“In today’s world, media becomes as essential as our daily needs, that is why I took it as a point of duty to visit all the Media outfits in Minna, the State Capital and recently to Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Niger State Chapter”.