The Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service in charge of Ogun Area I Command, Comptroller Bamidele Makinde, has expressed commitment to supporting the forex earnings of Nigeria, through promoting export business.
Foreign Exchange Earnings, according to experts, is the monetary gain made by selling goods or by exchanging currencies in global markets – and help to determine the nation’s economic health and the well-being of all the people residing in it.
Recall that the Nigeria Customs Service is one of the crown agencies that generate huge revenue for the government, besides fortifying land borders, seaports, and airports.
Comptroller Bamidele who showcased the achievements recorded by the Ogun Area I Command in the first quarter of this year to journalists said that the Command overwhelmingly succeeded in suppressing smuggling and trade facilitation in Ogun State.
Speaking on revenue generation, Comptroller Bamidele said that his Command has, so far, generated the sum of N44,857,053.50 – and that “the proceeds of the revenue consists of duty collected on merchandise in baggage, auction sales of scrap vehicles and Petroleum products.” he added.
“In comparison, the above-generated revenue is higher than the sum of N5,512,901.50 collected as revenue same period in the year 2022.
“May I reiterate that the revenue activities of the Command comprise importation and exportation of legitimate goods under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and assessment of merchandise in baggage,” said Comptroller Bamidele.
According to him, the fight against smuggling in Ogun State is yielding positive results, as officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service made 181 seizures of 12,610 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice, 740 bags of Chinese rice in a warehouse in Sagamu, 1,446 Cartons of Imported Chinese-made Cigarettes, and 77,250 liters of PMS.
Other seized items were: 29 units of vehicles used for conveying smuggled goods, 29 Units, 10 big pieces and 19 small pieces of Artifacts, 73 bales of Secondhand clothing, 14 sacks of foreign used shoes, 900 pieces of foreign used tyres, 1,120 cartons of frozen poultry products, 240 pieces of body cream, 107 sacks of Cannabis Sativa and 1,375 wraps of book, bread and coconut sizes.
However, the seized Marijuana has been handed over to the Commander of Narcotics, Ogun State Command of NDLEA, CN Ibiba Odili.
“The above seizures were recorded during intelligence-driven and strategic anti-smuggling operations at the border lines and other locations within Ogun State.
“The total Duty Payable Value (DPV) of the seizures includes N704, 482,601.00. This represents a 61 percent increase to the DPV (N432,337,690.00) of seizures recorded same period in the year 2022 under review.” He said.
The command anti-smuggling operations have also led to arrests of 7 suspected smugglers and they have been granted administrative bail, pending the conclusion of the investigation that will lead to their prosecution at the Federal High Court.
He appreciated the maximum support that the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), and his Management Team are rendering to Ogun I Area Command, stressing that the Command will deepen its efforts of safeguarding youths from embracing smuggling as means of livelihood.
