The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has made an impressive figures of N1.1b in 2 months as part of its responsibilities in revenue generation.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi in a press briefing held today at the Command, stated that they were able to meet up with the target of Seven Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy Five Million Naira (#7.875B) given to them as 2024 target.
This represents an increase of over 400% in collections compared to the target of 2023 and also translates to a monthly collectible revenue of Six Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand Naira (#656.258B).
In January 2024, the Command collected Six Hundred and Forty Three Million, Thirty Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Eleven Naira, Sixteen kobo (₦643,038,611.16) only, while in February, the command collected Five Hundred and Seventeen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Six Naira, Fourteen Kobo (₦517,950,286.14) only, making a total of One Billion , One Hundred and Sixty Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira, Thirty Kobo (₦1,160,988,897.30).
Under export, Compt. Bomodi noted that the Command has processed 184 Export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96 Metric Tonnes and an Free On Board of Thirteen Billion, Fifty Seven Million Naira (#13.057B). The total amount collected for NESS was Sixty Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand Naira (#65.337 M) and Twenty Four Million, Four Hundred and Seven Thousand Naira (#24.407M)
Under anti-smuggling activities, Comptroller Bomodi added that the Seme Command had between January and February 2024, successfully made 168 interventions which resulted in the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg (3 trailer load equivalent) foreign parboiled rice, 81,930 liters (3 tankers equivalent), 9 vehicles, 1425 General merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149 pkg of codeine and 2 locally manufactured guns, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Three Hundred and Sixty-Five million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety – Six Naira only ( ₦365,888,696.00 )
According to Bomodi, a total of Thirteen (13) suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, Six of them were granted administrative bail, three were handed over to NDLEA for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 3 suspects are still in our custody.
He highlighted the importance of the Joint Security Meetings held regularly at the Joint Border Post, stating that the meeting provide valuable intelligence and opportunities to cross-fertilise ideas about Border management.
Compt. Bomodi noted that collaboration holds the key to success in border management and that is why we insisted on information sharing among sister agencies.
"In line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally, the Command made a seizure of a truckload of beans, totaling four hundred (400) bags with a DPV of Sixty One Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦61,450,00.00 ), stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors in the border.
This item has since been deposited in the Government warehouse for safekeeping and eventual sale to the public.
Continuing, “In the same vein, the continuous surveillance of the border by our officers and men has resulted in the interceptions of Four Hundred (400x30liters) of PMS equivalent to 12,000 liters with a DPV of Eight Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Naira ( ₦8,347,680 ) in the early hours of Saturday, 2nd March 2024 along the creeks. The PMS seized will be auctioned in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of seized perishable items as directed by the Service”.
In 2023, under anti-smuggling activities recorded seizures of 513 foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, General merchandise, drugs/narcotics, and vegetable oil. Others were Six Million Dollars ( $6,000,000.00 ) of fake currency, 15 fake international passports, 10 International Driver’s licenses, and 152 live birds and other endangered species. All with a Duty Paid Value of over One Billion, Two Hundred and Twelve Million Naira only (#1.212B).
The Seme Abidjan corridor has been described by certain experts who have variously expressed the need for the exploitation of the potentials inherent in doing business among the over Four Hundred and Twenty Eight Million people within the West African sub-region which is the largest trade block in Africa and also expressed optimism that the enormous derivable advantages would be fully realised as trade within the Lagos-Abidjan corridor accounts for about 75% of all trade within the sub-region.
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