By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina
Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has generated 935,306,275.39 million Naira revenue in the last one year.
The Comptroller of the Command, Comptroller Wada Dalhatu Chedi disclosed this during the Command Thanksgiving and Send – off Ceremony held at its headquarters in Katsina Metropolis.
Comtroller Dalhatu Chedi said the amount generated was more than the 60,842,789.87 Million naira allocated revenue target for the Command in the year 2022.
Comtroller Chedi regretted the loss of two officers of the command who died in the course of discharging their assigned duties.
He said, ten suspects were arrested by the Command during the period under review. Some of them are presently being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Katsina while some were granted administrative bail.
He explained that, in an effort to suppress smuggling activities, the command was able to record 379 arrests, out of the number, 258 were converted to seizures after thorough investigations with duty paid value of 144,758,341.00 million Naira.
He named the items seized to include, food items of foreign rice; foreign vegetable oil; foreign Spaghetti noodles and second hand clothing among others and their various means of conveyance such as Cars, buses, trucks and Motorcycles.
In light of the foregoing, Comptroller Wada Dalhatu Chedi said the successes of the Command could not have been achieved without the vigorous efforts and resilience of officers and men of the command and other layers of its formations who have been giving the smugglers sleepless night.
Chedi disclosed that, the overwhelming supports and cooperation of security agencies, other government agencies as well as the border can also not be overlooked.
He further said in the Command’s effort to improve the welfare of the Officers, the Command requested from the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters Management for more barrack accommodations to be provided and it was approved.
Comptroller Dalhatu Chedi mentioned some of the welfare packages includes; 49 self – contain apartments fully renovated and 16 others still ongoing as well as other ongoing renovations in the Command. adding that, 59 projects were approved for the Command so far. 36 completed while 23 are ongoing.
Additionally, he said 13 new operational vehicles, Arms and Ammunitions, Uniforms and Kits as well as office Stationeries were equally supplied to ease operations in the Command.
Comptroller Wada Dalhatu Chedi said the Nigeria Customs Service Management has promoted 4,958 Officers and Men to the next rank which the command greatly benefited from.
He expressed gratitude to the Comptroller General, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and his Management team for their continuous support and guidance and appreciated Katsina state government under Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari for allocating an expanse of land to the Command situated along Jibia road which the NCS Management planned relocating the area Command in the foreseeable future.
Comtroller Wada Dalhatu Chedi emphasized that, the establishment of the Customs Community Consultative Forum has restored peace, cooperation and mutual respect and understanding between the command and border communities across the state.
Also speaking, Chief Judge of Katsina state,Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar commended Comptroller Wada Dalhatu Chedi for his achievement and mutual understanding with government and people of Katsina state and wish him well in the Customs Service Carrier.
