Ogun Customs seizes 7, 848 bags of rice in one month .Nets N1.2bn, surpasses revenue target .Convicts 3 culprits for vandalizing patrol vehicles

Spread the news

Ogun Customs seizes 7, 848 bags of rice in one month

.Nets N1.2bn, surpasses revenue target

.Convicts 3 culprits for vandalizing patrol vehicles

By Udeme Clement

**The CAC and his team showing news men seized rice in the warehouse:**

**The Public Relations Officer of the Command, with other officers in the warehouse during the press briefing:**

The Ogun Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has recorded a land mark achievement in its anti-smuggling operations, revenue generation and trade facilitation, as the Unit displayed seizure of over 7, 848 bags of foreign rice made in the month of July, 2019.

The Command also collected a huge sum of over N1.2 billion as revenue in the same month of July, 2019 for the Federal Government

The Customs Area Controller, CAC, of Ogun Command, Comptroller Michael Agbara, disclosed this during a press conference at Idiroko, even as he displayed the seized rice and other prohibited items filled in Customs warehouse at the border.

Giving a break-down of revenue collection from 1^stto 31^st July, 2019, the CAC analysed, “The monthly target is N643,471, 763.99 (N643.4million); total revenue collection is N1, 281, 034, 042.80 (N1.2billion);Excess revenue collection for July is N637, 562, 278.81(N637. 5million); Percentage collection is 199.08% and the Percentage Excess is 99.08 %”.

Comptroller Agbara informed, “The above revenue collection for the month under review (1^st to 31^stJuly, 2019) indicates an increase of N84, 887, 207.20 above a total collection of N1, 196, 146, 835.60 (N1.9billion) made in June, 2019”.

Pointing out the success achieved by the Command in anti-smuggling operations, the CAC explained, “In the area of anti-smuggling during the period under review, the Command made102 seizures comprising of 7, 848 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each); 23units of vehicles (7 used vehicles and16 means of conveyance; 32 kegs of vegetable oil (25liters each); 201pairs of used tyres; 3 sacks of used foot wears; 320 bags of sugar (50kg each);4 bales and 1 sack of secondhand clothing and 200 kegs of PMS (Petrol) of 25litres each.

“The total Duty Paid Value, DPV, of the above items is N137, 950, 082.00 (N137. 9million)”.

The Ogun Customs boss enthused, “The seizure of over 7, 848 bags of rice (50kg each) in the month of July, 2019 is indeed a landmark achievement among numerous successes recorded by the Command.

“This is evidently a patriotic duty by the Service to fully align with the cardinal policies of Federal Government targeted at boosting Agriculture development in the country, with a view to attaining national food self-sufficiency”.

**Ogun Customs patrol vehicles vandalized by smugglers:**

That was not all. The CAC made another disclosure as follows, “The Federal High Court Abeokuta on the 28^th of June, 2019 convicted three accused persons for vandalising official patrol vehicle attached to Team ‘H’ Roving ‘A’ Anti-Smuggling Patrol Team at Ashipa forest on 22^nd September, 2017.

“The Court found the accused persons namely; YAKUBU OLAMIDE “M”, PAUL AYINLA “M”, AYINDE ADEBAYO “M” guilty jointly and sentenced them accordingly”.

He emphasised, “While the Command is unrelenting in pursuing other cases including the murder of one of its personnel (CA I HamisuSani) on the 6^th of January, 2019, with the major suspect involved in the case now in custody, this will serve as a deterrent to other unscrupulous members of the society who might harbor the intention of harassing Security Agents while discharging their lawful duties.

“Moreover, a notorious smuggler based in Owode has been arrested and charged to a Federal High Court for smuggling of rice and presently on remand, cooling his feet in Ikoyi Prison pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions”.

He went on, “It will interest you to know that the Management of NCS has formally communicated a development directing the unbundling and creation of eight (8) new Area Commands within the Service. Ogun Command is privileged to be among the beneficiaries, with a view to enhancing administrative efficiency and boosting revenue generation for the Service.

“The two new Area Commands in Ogun state are Ogun I and Ogun II Area Commands. Ogun I will have an area of coverage relating to regulation and enforcement of all import, export and anti-smuggling related activities in Ogun state with Headquarters at Idiroko.

“Ogun II Area Command will be saddled with the responsibilities of enforcing and regulating all Excise (industries under Excise control), Free Trade Zone and Parcel Post related activities in Ogun state with Headquarters at Abeokuta. This visionary development is based on the outcome of Service Board, at its 50^th Regular meeting held on 21^st May 2019”.

His words, “I wish to commend the sister agencies, opinion leaders, heads of traditional institutions, eminent personalities, fourth realm of the estate (the Media) and other law abiding members of the public for their unflinching support to NCS in Ogun state.

“It is our believe that the new structure of NCS in Ogun state will indeed be recipe for further cementing the existing relationship towards the overall growth, development and stability of our dear country- Nigeria” .

Our correspondent observed that the Ogun Customs warehouse was filled to he brim with seizures of foreign rice and other banned items.