The Oyo/Osun Customs Command has generated over ₦83 billion in revenue since the assumption of office on November 26, 2020 by the outgoing Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Adamu Abdulkadir.
Comptroller Abdulkadir, who disclosed this in his last chat with the press as the Area Controller, gave a breakdown of revenue yielding activities since he assumed office at the Command.
According to the Comptroller, seizures with Duty Paid Value worth ₦931,935,816.00 (Nine Hundred and Thirty-One Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixteen Naira) were made.
“Within this period, the highest duty collection in a single month in the history of the Command was realised in June 2021 at ₦10,658,695,609.41 (Ten Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Nine Naira and Forty-One Kobo)”. He said.
According to the Comptroller, various Taskforce teams had to be created to attain the level of achievement, namely PMS Taskforce, Excise Taskforce, Operation Fish Out, and Mining Taskforce.
“However, these Taskforce teams would not have been functional, efficient, and effective if the officers were not committed to achieving the mandate of the Comptroller General of Customs”. He noted.
“The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) has mandated the enforcement of Government policies in the fight against smuggling of prohibited/restricted items which has helped in stemming the menace of insecurity, improving health conditions and saving our local industries,” Abdulkadir said.
In his words: “The Area Command under my management has further enhanced its anti-smuggling strategies by taking the battle to the doorsteps of the smugglers, rather than waiting for them to come out.
“We have sharpened our intelligence and enforcement capabilities to fight smuggling and enforce compliance with reference to extant laws guiding our procedures and rules of engagement.”
Abdulkadir revealed that although the Command has a healthy relationship with its host communities, there were some unscrupulous elements who tried to undermine the Service, which prompted him to seek the support of the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde to help reach out to legislators and chairmen of the local governments.
“The reason for this was to help sensitize the members of the communities on the need for a cordial relationship and cooperation with the men of the Customs Service.” He explained.
The Comptroller also revealed that from November 2021 to January 2022, the Command collected duty of ₦17,161,205,519.34 (Seventeen Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Two Hundred and Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Nineteen Naira and Thirty-Four Kobo).
According to him, this figure represented a 0.16% increase in comparison to November 2020 to January 2021.
“Also, during the period under review, the Command made various seizures such as 5013 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice, 132 bales of second-hand clothing, 1 used Lexus GX470 jeep, 1 used Opel Zafira car, 7 sacks of used shoes, 2004 pieces of used tyres, 807 X 25 litres kegs of premium motor spirit.
“Others are 15 X 25 litres kegs of foreign vegetable oil, all with a Duty Paid Value of ₦227,097.300.00 (Two Hundred and Twenty Seven Million, Ninety Seven Thousand, Three Hundred Naira). This brings the cumulative DPV since his assumption of duty to ₦931,935,816.00 (Nine Hundred and Thirty-One Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixteen Naira).
” The total revenue collected during his tenure as the Customs Area Controller of Oyo/Osun between November 2020 and January 2022 to ₦80,378,935,034.59 (Eighty Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Thirty-Four Naira and Fifty Nine Kobo).
“During this period, the Command made 356 seizures, 46 detentions, and 19 arrests, with the suspects granted bail pending the determination of their cases.” He added.
The outgoing Controller used the opportunity to acknowledge the assistance and contributions of the Customs Intelligence Unit, Federal Operations Unit, CGC Strike Force, Customs Police, and Joint Border Patrol Team, as well as sister agencies like the Police, DSS, FRSC, and Oyo State Operation Burst, among others, to his monumental achievement.
He also lauded the leaders, stakeholders, and people of Oyo and Osun states for their cooperation in helping the Command carry out its duties
Comment here