The Area Controller in charge of the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Ben Oramalugo has announced generating the sum of Eleven Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Three Naira, Ninety One Kobo into the coffers of NCS precisely within seven (7) weeks and four (4) days of assuming the role of Area Controller of the Command.
Comptroller Oramalugo who made this announcement while giving the account of stewardship in his maiden press briefing on Friday, November 10, 2023 also revealed that the feat is aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, revenue generation and suppression of smuggled/prohibited items within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR).
He said; “During the period covering September to October 2023, the Command through its rigorous enforcement measures and strategic initiatives has contributed to the economic growth of the nation by collecting the sum of Eleven Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Three Naira, Ninety One Kobo as revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government.
“When added to the revenue collected for the period covering January to August 2023, the Command has collected a Sum of Fifty Nine Billion, and Eighty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Naira, Sixty Four Kobo).
“This feat is made possible by our resolve to continue to prioritize trade facilitation, religiously enforce provisions of our extant laws aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, implementation of various measures to simplify customs processes, reducing bureaucracy within the system with the aim of promoting legitimate trade and foster a conducive business environment for excise traders operating within the Command’s Area of Responsibility” he stated.
In the area of anti-smuggling operations, Comptroller Oramalugo disclosed that “the Command with use of intelligence and continuous patrol/enforcement operations has made series of interceptions comprising of collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
“It is important to note that the Command recognizes the importance of collaboration and inter-agency cooperation of which it fosters strong partnerships with relevant Federal Government Agency, trade associations and the general public.
“At this juncture we wish to express our gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), BA Adeniyi who in his efforts to ensure the realization of the Command’s mandate in the area of suppression of smuggling has made provisions for operational vehicles to the Command and leveraging on the inspiration and support received we hope to improve our performance subsequent months ahead” he assured.
Some of the items intercepted includes sixty four (64) sacks and one hundred and fifty (150) compressed cannabis sativa (otherwise called Indian hemp) weighing a total of 777.5kg. The seized items were handed over to officials of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
While acknowledging that the achievements showcased at the Command were made possible through timely sharing of credible intelligence and effective collaboration and synergy between all units of Nigeria Customs Service resident between Oyo and Osun States (Federal Operations Unit, Border Drill)
He also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the sister agencies such as Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security, NDLEA, and Oyo State Operation Burst for ensuring.
By Ajibola Adedoye