By YSO Olaniyi
The Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has arrested
sixty- three smugglers within its jurisdiction, and declared over N20billion revenue between January and April of 2020.
Customs Area Comptroller in charge of Oyo and Osun, Mrs. Uche Ngozi, while addressing the press at its Ibadan headquarters on Tuesday, said the customs confiscated 3,465 bags of foreign rice, 13 kegs of 25L vegetable oil, 44 gallons of 4L vegetable oil, 20 units of used tyres, 310 drums of 100 liters of PMS, 180 kegs of PMS and 180 bales of second hand clothing materials, 54 sacks of new shoes and other contraband from different axis under the command. She noted that the seized items will be auctioned and the proceeds will be remitted to the federal government coffers.
Mrs. Ngozi in her briefing said, “with smart intelligence gathering, we are able to identify a petrol filing station carrying out illegal activities within its premises. The petrol station has been sealed and suspects arrested were made to write statement and undertaking to desist from such illicit activities”.
The command boss revealed that out the annual revenue target of N62,848,518,366.93 apportioned to Oyo/Osun command, N20,051,805,179 have been generated with the first quarter of the present year.
Mrs. Ngozi further informed that the Comptroller General of Customs, Rtd. Colonel Hameed Ibrahim, has directed more stringent measures to further strengthen the interception capabilities of customs officers in corroboration with the extant laws and regulations guiding import and export procedures of the country.
According to her, “we are proud to inform the public that through these difficult months of dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic, we have worked tirelessly as a service to ensure that our borders are secure and smuggling activities are reduced to the nearest minimum. We combed the bushes day and night to ensure that government fiscal policy is enforced.
”Within the period under review, we have made 72 seizures and detentions. We have carried out enforcement and anti-smuggling activities with utmost professionalism , caution and intelligence gathering . We urge the public to cooperate with the Nigeria Customs Service in the implementation of government fiscal policies to help improve the economic and social welfare of the nation” she said.
Mrs. Ngozi concluded her briefing by acknowledging the cooperation of traditional rulers, community leaders, stakeholders and the good people of Oyo and Osun especially in identifying and providing enabling environment for the officers to function properly.
