The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command’s Controller, Ben Oramalugo, has declared that the Command generated N18, 078, 967, 686.49 as revenue.
Oramalugo stated this at a press conference held on Friday, at the Command’s headquarters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The area Controller said the Command had, from January to August 29, 2024, cumulatively generated N48, 743, 215, 625 .64 as revenue.
He said the generated revenue covering the period January to August 2024, signified a 2.74 percent increase compared to the sum of ₦47,408,251,086.73 collected as revenue for the period of January to August 2023.
Speaking on the Command’s efforts at combating anti-smuggling activities, Oramalugo disclosed that the Command seized 753 kegs and 94 drums (40, 915 litres) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with duty paid value (DPV) of N27, 894, 900.00; 2,448 wraps and 11 sachets (2,020 kg) of Cannabis Sativa with DPV of N148, 932, 000.00; 2,183 (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice with DPV of N192,104,000.00; 2,667 pieces of used tyres with DPV of N254, 839, 500.00.
Other seizures made by the Command include 24 bales of used clothing with DPV of N17, 280,000.00; 01 used Mazda car (626) with DPV of N3,600,000.00; 01 used Pick-up Truck with DPV of N7,700,000.00; 01(10 tyres) used DAF Truck with DPV of N30, 800,000.00 and 01(6 tyres) used DAF Truck with DPV of N30,000,000.00.
Oramalugo said that in the spirit of interagency collaboration, the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had given approval to the Command to hand over the 2,448 wraps and another 11 sachets of Cannabis Sativa worth ₦148,932,000.00 to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Oyo State Command.
He also said the Command had received approval to auction the intercepted Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) listed as part of the seizures, due to its inflammable nature.
“A total of 40,915 litres of Petroleum PMS with a Duty Paid Value of ₦27,894,900.00 have been auctioned during the period covering June 14th to August 29th, 2024,” Oramalugo said.
“I would like to point out that in a bid to tackle the ever-evolving tactics of smugglers the Command is presently adopting various technological innovations as well as strengthening our collaboration with other security agencies, stakeholders and the general public to combat smuggling and protect our economy from the dangers of illicit trade.
“I would like to also emphasise that these seizures represent a significant blow to smugglers and a win for lawful trade and economic stability. The milestone recorded here today is a result of strategic intelligence gathering, increased patrols, and the dedication of Command’s officers who have demonstrated exceptional vigilance and commitment to duty.
“As we move forward, the Oyo/Osun Area Command remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service in all our operations. We would continue to leverage technology and innovative practices in line with the new NCS Act of 2023 to further enhance our operations and deliver on our mandate,” Oramalugo said.
Representative of the State Command, NDLEA, at the event, ACN Wokoma Terry, PSO Operatives, while speaking with journalists after a formal handing over by the area Command’s Controller, said, “The drugs will be destroyed since there is no suspect attached. The seizure is a massive one. Every crime in any clime starts with drugs, and in collaboration with the Customs, we will sustain the war against drug trafficking.”
Oramalugo expressed his appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde, the CGC, BA Adeniyi, traditional rulers in both Oyo and Osun States, sister security agencies, sister units of the Customs Service and other stakeholders for their continued support and collaboration.
“Together, we will build on our successes and overcome the challenges ahead as we strive to fulfill our mandate under the Nigeria Customs Service Act,” Oramalugo said.
In a related development, when Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, redeployed Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu as Area Controller of Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Kaduna, of the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday April 17, 2024, it was a strategy and measure to enhance trade facilitation, generates more revenue, curb smuggling activities, and in fact enhance efficiency in the Unit.
This strategy from observation started paying off immediately when Comptroller Shuaibu assumed office as the Unit’s helmsman.
His leadership style blew a giant hole in the activities of economic saboteurs who were plying the Northern region to perpetuate their illegal enterprises, crippling their existence.
“I would like to point out that in a bid to tackle the ever-evolving tactics of smugglers the Command is presently adopting various technological innovations as well as strengthening our collaboration with other security agencies, stakeholders and the general public to combat smuggling and protect our economy from the dangers of illicit trade”
Comptroller Shuaibu who has suddenly become smugglers nightmare in the region has continued to hit the miscreants hard, by making significant seizures worth millions of naira that would have been sabotaged by the mischievous.
Known for his niche strategies from his precedent, the anti- smuggling czar deployed proactive tactics to greatly undermine and tame the unscrupulous elements plying the route and he is gradually changing the narratives of the region with his leadership style from its familiar illegal habits.
Recall that the menace of smuggling and evasion of duties through Northern borders was at its peak and has wreaked havoc on the nation’s ailing economy, but four months of assuming duty as FOU Zone B helmsman, Comptroller Shuaibu took bold steps to curb this menace by deploying competent officers across the nooks and crannies of the Unit and simultaneously complement Adeniyi’s mission statement of consolidation, collaboration and sustained innovation.
This move yielded tremendous success as seizures of contraband are being recorded on a weekly basis.
In the last four months, vehicles, rice, consignments of pangolin scale, worth over N3 billion, second hand clothes, among others had been intercepted by customs officers under his watch.
A breakdown of the value of the seizures made within the period under review include- 750 sacks of Donkey bones and Donkey meat as well as other prohibited items valued at N3.1 billion; 58,740 sachets of tramadol and 48,000 ampules of Analgin injection worth N167.5Million; 12 vehicles (means of conveyance) 174 Bags of foreign rice (50 kg each), 234 jerry cans of PMS (25 litres each) 109 bales of second hand clothing 367 cartons of Spaghetti 50 cartons of Macaroni 47 Jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil; 6 sacks of used shoes; 100 sacks of snuff 30 bags of foreign sugar (25kg each) 2,255 cartons of herbicide chemical; 10 cartons of foreign couscous 235 Bags of Foreign flour (25kg each) and Over 100 cartons of general goods among others.
His intimidating track records have made the miscreants to be on the run.
The Chairman Association of Customs License Clearing Agents, Kano State chapter, Abdulrashid Nasidi, also extolled the proactive efforts of Comptroller Shu’aibu to foster community inclusion in his anti-smuggling strategy.
Nasidi emphasised on Comptroller Shuaibu’s style of encouraging inter-agency collaboration while combating smuggling, saying this bolsters the capability of security agencies against criminal elements.
He opined that it is the collective responsibility of all to curb the menace, which requires citizens’ contribution.
He enjoined the citizens of the region to provide credible information where necessary to support customs efforts in northern Nigeria and the country as a whole.
Shu’aibu has always informed that compliance is not only a legal obligation but a strategic choice that ensures the smooth and efficient flow of goods across Nigerian borders. Smugglers are thus encouraged to embrace legal activities and desist from unpatriotic acts.
“Smuggling has really affected the economy of Nigeria in several ways. It hinders the local industry, discourages legal imports and reduces the volume of revenues collected from duties and levies by the states. This Unit will continue to enforce the Federal Government’s policies in line with international best practices, no matter the campaign of calumny against the Service,” he said.
