ACG Aremu ends tour with fresh impetus, commendations, high expectations

• Applauds Customs in Zone ‘A’ on brilliant performance
• Says e-Customs will ensure deployment of drones for border surveillance
• As Compt Jibo presents impressive score card

Apparently, the working tour of the Zonal Coordinator in charge of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in Zone ‘A’, ACG Modupe Aremu, came to a successful conclusion on September 20, 2021, at Seme Border Area Command, by exactly 3. 30pm, but the outstanding moments, good memories and commendations that characterised the whole exercise will linger for long in the minds of offiicers in Zone ‘A’

Our Correspendent noted that the epoch making tour, which paved the way for close interactions among officers and ACG Aremu witnessed outstanding display of intelligence, high level of professional competence, exchange of fresh impetus on operational strategies, the right decorum by offiicers at various formations, as well as sharing challenges faced on the line of duty.

At present, expectations are high, as offiicers expressed optimism that the outcome of the thorough and well coordinated tour will re-jigg operational procedures in the entire zone.
For example, in her remarks at Seme Border, ACG Aremu, disclosed that the Command will soon get more offiicers to boost its enforcement operations at the border axis. She further revealed that with the coming of e-Customs, drones will be deployed for border surveillance to curb illicit trade.

Her assertions :
“I am highly impressed with your performance here. Poultry and local rice farmers have commended Customs on anti-smuggling drive that has given a big boost to their business.
Seme is the only border opened in Zone ‘A’.
I commend the Area Controller and all the officers of this Command on their anti-smuggling feats. With e-Customs, we are going to minimise Person to Person contact because we are moving to one-stop-shop border where all the processes will be automated. Commissioning of the Joint Border Post in 2018, has paved the way for coordinated border management here like what obtains in advanced countries.

“I equally commend your efforts in curbing smuggling of petroleum products, because even the petrol subsidised by the Federal Government was being smuggled out.”

Responding to questions on which Command she rated the most outstanding as the tour ended, She enthused; “All the Commands in Zone ‘A’ have done very well and I commend all the officers and men in this Zone.
Zone ‘A’ account for 80 percent of revenue collection by Customs. They should keep up the good work. I know we can do better.”

Speaking further, Mrs Aremu expressed great pleasure on the performance of officers.
She encouraged them to increase the tempo of their operations in all aspects to outsmart economic saboteurs.

In his speech, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Compt Bello Mohammed Jibo, presented an impressive score card of the Command.

His words :
“The ACG, we are most honoured to have you. This Joint Border Post is a project by ECOWAS but funded by European Union for seamless trade facilitation.

“Enforcement activities here are most effective. From January till date, the Command made
1, 244 seizures. These include 3, 447 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, with a street value of N98.9million; and 10,309 jerrycans of smuggled petrol (25 litres each), equivalent to eight trailer tankers.

Other seizures include 10,706 bags of foreign rice; 44 bags of NPK Fertilizer; 608 cartons of
Frozen Poultry Products; 784 rolls of Cigarette; 109 units of smuggled vehicles; 11 Jerrycans of
Vegetable oil (25 litres each); 843 cartons of
Tomato paste; 605 pairs of used Shoes in 12 sacks; 17 sacks of used of clothes; 19 used tyres; 153 sachets of Herbicides; 1419 packs of different drugs and other general merchandise, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N886.4million.

“Out of the total smuggled vehicles intercepted, 37 are presently in Court awaiting condemnation”.

Compt Jibo, pointed out; “Benin Republic economic policies affected the revenue drive of our Command, as all goods transiting through Benin were mandated to pay some duties and levies by the government of Benin Republic, which is contrary to ECOWAS protocols and international transit agreements, despite that,
the Command collected N718.8 million as revenue during the period under review.

“In addition to that, the Command processed and exited exported trade volume of 635, 149.23 metric tons, with Free On board (FOB) value of N15, 564, 130, 518.09, (approximately N15.6 billion)”.

He stressed; “Seme Command maintains a cordial working relationship with the host community and always staying in close contact with the leadership of the community, the youths, as well as traditional rulers. To keep the relationship afloat, and as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility,
the Command constructed and handed over a modern toilet facility to the host community, even as it is partnering a Non-Governmental Organisation to equip the Badagry United Football Club, to engage the youths meaningfully.

“Other projects embarked upon by Seme Command include renovation of DC’s quarters, conversion of 16 classrooms COWA primary school to residential accommodation all ensuite.

‘This Command is one of the major beneficiaries of NCS welfare programmes. We thank the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Hameed Ali and his management team for this”.

On inter-agency synergy, he said; “Customs as the lead agency at the border ensures collaboration and cooperation among other security agencies. We are focused, coordinated and using vigorous intelligence gathering towards making our borders safe for business and seamless trade facilitation”.

Places inspected by the ACG at Seme Command include the bonded terminal; construction projects;
examination centre; specific units at the Joint Border Post, among other units..
The tour ended with press interview and more commendations for offiicers in Zone ‘A’ .

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