By ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kwara Area Command has generated a total ₦7.978 billion naira revenue for the federal government between January and August this year.
The state acting Area Controller of Customs, Najeem Ogundeyi made the disclosure while showcasing the achievements of the command in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He said the milestone demonstrates the service commitment to maximizing revenue for the Federal Government while maintaining a balanced operational focus on trade facilitation and national security.
According to him, the command will never become a safe haven for activities of smugglers.
Comptroller Ogundeyi said the seizure of food products should not be seen as an attempt to disrupt food importation through legitimate means into country.
He said the mandate of the service is to enforce compliance with the laws governing cross-border trade.
Ogundeyi explained that the command recorded eight (8) distinct seizures intercepted across various operational corridors within the Command which included Eighty bales and Six (6) sacks of Used Clothing intercepted along the Ogbomoso/Jebba axis with duty paid value of ₦32.300 million naira ,6,875 Litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intercepted along the Bukuro/Okuta/Chikanda axis with duty paid value of ₦2.7 million naira. and 3,396 Packets of Tramadol (100mg) intercepted along the Okuta axis with duty paid value of ₦50.9 million naira.
Others are Fourteen (14) bags of Basmati Rice (5kg each) intercepted along the Bode-saadu Expressway, with duty paid value of ₦350,000, 6,705 Cartons of Foreign Spaghetti intercepted along the Bode-Saadu axis with a duty paid value of ₦201 million naira, 270 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50kg each) intercepted across various locations with a duty paid value of ₦25, million naira as well as a Toyota Highlander (2025 Model) and One (1) Dodge Charger SXT (2018 Model) cars.
The customs acting area controller noted that the interceptions reflect the dynamic nature of cross-border criminality and shows how Smugglers continuously adopt tactics in diverting critical energy resources like PMS to trafficking dangerous pharmaceuticals and uncustomed luxury vehicles.
He stressed that unregulated importation or smuggling of product poses a danger to the economy of the country
Ogundeyi said the achievement are rooted in the customs intelligence operation.
He thanked the sisters security agencies for their support to ensure success.
Ogundeyi called on residents of border communities, traditional Institutions and other stakeholders to support the effort of the command in reducing the activities of smugglers to the minimum.
Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
