Seme Customs’ revenue profile rises to N6.7bn in 10mths

Despite the downturn in the volume of trade through the border, the Seme Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has collected a total sum of N6.68 billion as duty paid on imported goods between January and October this year.

The command also recorded about 914 seizures with a duty paid value of N438.3 million, while about 26 defendants, who are currently undergoing prosecution, were arrested within the period under review. The seized items include vehicles, textile, rice, vegetable oil, second-hand clothes, shoes, bags, artefacts, among others.

A statement signed by Ernest Olottah, the command’s public relations officer, said that about $16,870 worth of artefacts were detected and seized by the command during an intensive search operation that was based on intelligence.

Also, as part of effort to curb the activities of smugglers, especially during the forthcoming festive period when import and transit businesses through the land border are expected to be on the rise, the command has also intensified its anti-smuggling patrol.

According to the statement, Othman Abdu Saleh, the Customs area controller (CAC), directed for the full deployment of all patrol vehicles, logistics and personnel, while all leaves, passes and permits for absence to all personnel of the command were cancelled with a view to ensuring that all operatives are fully on ground during the yuletide.

Addressing senior officers of the command recently, Saleh emphasised the need for officers to discharge customs duties at the border without compromise and to rededicate themselves to the national goal.

‘’Our core functions of preventing and suppressing smuggling; collecting and accounting for all revenue due to the government; facilitating genuine import and export businesses at the border and promoting national security must be discharged without fear or favour,” he said.

“Thus, we assure legitimate businesspeople of our support and cooperation. We warn that the command will not condone any attempt to evade duty payments through concealment, undervaluation, dishonest declaration and other sharp practices that compromise government revenue.’’