Kebbi Area Command of the Nigeria customs service, presented its activities for the third quarter of 2024 during a media briefing held on Friday, October 25, 2024. Comptroller Iheanacho Ernest Ojike expressed his satisfaction with the Command’s progress in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling efforts.
In his address, Comptroller Ojike highlighted the Command’s continuous efforts to enhance revenue collection. “We have been holding a series of meetings and educating our stakeholders on basic customs procedures related to importation and exportation. This is crucial in combating smuggling and increasing revenue generation,” he stated. The Command aims to unify its trading communities to foster compliance and ensure the importation of safe goods.
Despite facing challenges such as low import volumes at its only official border, Kamba, the Command successfully generated ₦36,223,554.50 during the review period. Ojike emphasized the potential for further revenue increases in the coming months, crediting the leadership of Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for supporting initiatives, including the proposed reopening of the Tsamiya-Sebgana border as a one-stop border post.
Additionally, Ojike introduced the “Whirlwind Team,” a special task force established by the CGC to tackle petroleum product smuggling. He noted that the team’s intelligence-driven efforts have already resulted in significant reductions in smuggling activities, showcasing several seizures of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as evidence of their success.
In the realm of anti-smuggling, the Command reported several significant seizures, including:
– 367 bales of secondhand clothing
– 16,300 liters of Premium Motor Spirit
– 74 cartons of various medications
– 8 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each)
– 180 pieces of donkey skin (bundled in 9 sacks)
– 2 liters of oxidized nitric acid (35 kg each)
– 1 unit of a DAF truck and a Toyota Corolla
The total Duty Paid Value of these seized items is estimated at ₦323,065,567. Comptroller Ojike confirmed that five suspects related to these seizures have been arrested and granted administrative bail pending further investigation.
As part of its interagency collaboration efforts, the Command plans to hand over 180 pieces of donkey skin and 74 cartons of medications to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), respectively.
Ojike warned smugglers that the Command’s officers are well-equipped and positioned to thwart smuggling activities in Kebbi State. He urged criminals to abandon their illegal endeavors, emphasizing the commitment of the Customs Service to ensuring a smuggling-free environment.
In closing, the Comptroller expressed gratitude to the media, sister agencies, and citizens for their support in combating smuggling, stating, “Together, we can make Kebbi State a better place.”