By Ajibola Adedoye
In furtherance to the directives given by Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) that all Commands make periodic reports of their activities to members of the public, and in the spirit of open governance as championed by the NCS management, the Seme/Krake Joint Border post under the leadership of Comptroller Timi Bomodi has announced generating a total sum of One Billion One Hundred and Sixty Million Nine Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira Thirty Kobo, between January and February 2024 which is about Eighty Eight percent of total expected revenue from the Command.
Comptroller Timi Bomodi, CAC Seme Area Command who made this known in his chat with journalists on the activities of the Command at Seme-Krake Joint Border Post today.
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According to him, “The Command was given a target of 7.875 Billion Naira to collect in the current year. This represents an increase of over 400% in collections compared to the target of 2033. This also translates to a monthly collectable revenue of 656.258 million naira. In January 2024, the Command collected 643,038,611.16, while in February, we collected N 517,950,286.14 making a total of N1,160,988,897.30.
“The shortfall in expected collections can be attributed to total aggregate decline in imports occasioned by the high exchange rate”.
In the area of export, the CAC disclosed that “The Command has processed 184 export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96 Metric Tonnes and a FOB of 13.057 billion naira. Total amount collected for NESS was 65.337 million naira, and 24.407 million naira as Export Surcharge for previous imported goods”.
Speaking further, he added that “It is important first to highlight the numerous challenges encountered by officers in the course of enforcing government policies, primary among which is the difficult terrain. However, since the provision of special purpose vehicles, and other critical assets by NCS management, and the rejigging of inter agency affairs, things have taken a positive turn at Seme/Kraken Joint Border Post”.
In the area of anti smuggling activities, Comptroller Bomodi said “Between January and February 2024, the Command has successfully made 168 interventions which resulted in the seizures of 2,193 bags of 50kg (3 trailer load equivalent) foreign parboiled rice, 81, 930 litres (3 tankers equivalent), 9 vehicles,1425 General merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149pkgs of codeine and 2 locally manufactured guns. All 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 (N365,888,969.00).
“A total of thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, six of them were granted administrative bails, three were handed over to the NDLEA for further agency action, one was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 3 suspects are still in our custody” he stated.
The CAC also highlights the importance of the Joint Security Meetings held regularly at the Joint Border Post. According to him “These meetings provide valuable intelligence and opportunities to cross fertilize ideas about border management. We note that collaboration holds the key to success in border management, that’s why we have insisted on information sharing among sister agencies” he posited.
“In the light of our present economic realities, where massive food shortages have been reported across the country, and in line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally, the Command made a seizure of a truck load of beans, totaling four hundred (400) bags with a DPV of Sixty one million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira (N61,450,00.00), stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridor in the border. This item has since been deposited in the Government warehouse for safe keeping and eventual sale to the public. 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 of 12,000 liters with a DPV of Eight million, three hundred and Forty-Seven thousand, six hundred and Eighty Naira (N8,347,680) in the early hours of Saturday 2nd March, 2024 along the creeks. The PMS Seized will be auctioned in line with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales seized perishable items as directed by the Service.
“These seizures come on the heels of successes in anti-smuggling activities recorded in 2023, which saw 513 seizures of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, General merchandise, drugs/narcotics and vegetable oil. Others were Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00) fake currency, 15 fake international passports, 10 international Drivers licenses, and 152 live birds and other endangered species. All with a Duty Paid Value of over 1.212 billion Naira.
“The Lagos -Abidjan corridor of which the Lagos-Badagry express way is a major composite in a singular passage way accessible via multiple tributaries. Our creeks and the Atlantic traverse this single entry point. That is why collaboration with the Nigeria Navy is imperative and significant.
The Nigerian Air Force and Army has provided critical support throughout this period.
“As the lead agency in border security, and facilitators of International trade, we are constantly aware of the need to balance both responsibilities through the use of risk management tools at our disposal. We are also aware that those whose illicit businesses have been significantly hindered by our activities will spare no effort in devising new methods to counter us. Some of these efforts will include misinformation and misinformation. We would like to assure the public that we will continue to remain alive to our responsibilities and will not be deterred by naysayers or anyone intent upon casting aspersions on our officers, some of whom have paid the ultimate price for the service to their country. Others have been severely maimed and will bear the scars of their bravery to their graves.
“These are challenging times for the Nigeria Customs Service. As criminals get more desperate and daring, we at Seme/Kraken Joint Border Post will ensure the sustainability of a more formidable defense” he stressed.
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