By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
The Area Controller for Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Tolutope Ogunkua on Monday said the command generated NI4.8bilion in 2016.
Mr Ogunkua who stated this in Ibadan during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters, also disclosed that the Osun/Oyo NCS seized 9,000 (50kg) bags of smuggled imported rice with duty paid value of N88,776,000.00.
The NCS Area Controller maintained that the revenue generated by the command in 2016 clearly showed an increase of N278.2million when compared to that of year 2015 when N14.5billion was generated.
According to Mr Ogunkua, 1,207 vehicles paid duty of N320,329,797.00 between January and December 2016,while 266 packages of Cannabis Sativa were arrested and handed over to the NDLEA within the period under review.
“The Command made seizure of one hundred and eleven (111) vehicles with duty paid value of 136,770,011.65, a total of 1971 cartons of frozen poultry products with a duty paid value of 16,373,097.00 were intercepted. A total of 173, 25 litres gallon of petroleum products were arrested and handed over to NSCDC”he said.
Speaking on the seized rice,the Area Controller declared that the 9,000 bags of the smuggled imported rice were “arrested and evacuated at a warehouse in Ibadan by the command’s anti-smuggling team in conjunction with the Federal Operations Union (FOU) Zone A”.
Emphasizing that Oyo/Osun NCS command will not rest on its oars in playing strategic roles of revenue collection, trade facilitation and border security,Mr Ogunkua noted that the evacuation of the rice and any other products proved to be smuggled into the country illegally “is in line with section 147 of Customs and Excise Management Act, 1990 as amended” and that the exercise will be a continuous one in the command.
“A total of (9000) 50kg bags of smuggled imported rice with duty paid value of N88,776,000.00 was arrested and evacuated from a warehouse by the Command anti-smuggling team in conjunction with the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A few weeks ago”.
