Rédaction Africa Links 24 with News Desk
Published on 2024-03-06 10:21:55
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Seme Area Command, Lagos, recently made a significant seizure of a truckload of beans totaling 400 bags, which were found stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors at the border. Timi Bomodi, the Comptroller of the Seme Area Command, disclosed this during a news conference held in Lagos.
Mr. Bomodi explained that the seizure of the beans was prompted by the current economic situation, where massive food shortages have been reported across the country. The beans were seized in accordance with the directive to prevent the illegal export of grains. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items was calculated to be ₦61.45 million.
The seized items have been securely deposited in the government’s warehouse for safekeeping and eventual sale to the public. Additionally, the continuous surveillance of the border by customs officers led to the interception of 400 x 30 liters of petrol, equivalent to 12,000 liters, with a DPV of ₦8,347,680 along the creeks on March 2, 2024.
Mr. Bomodi stated that the seized petrol would be auctioned in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the sale of seized perishable items as directed by the service. In terms of revenue generation, the Seme Area Command had already generated N1.16 billion between January and February 2024, with a revenue target of N7.88 billion for the current year.
The command saw a significant increase in revenue targets compared to the previous year, representing a 400% increase. This translates to a monthly collectable revenue of N656.26 million. In January 2024, the command collected ₦643,038,611, and in February, it collected ₦517,950,286, bringing the total revenue collected to ₦1,160,988,897.
Furthermore, the command processed 184 export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96 metric tons and a Free On Board (FOB) value of N13.06 billion. The total amount collected for the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme was N65.3 million, along with N24.4 million as an export surcharge for previously imported goods.
Despite numerous challenges faced by officers in enforcing government policies, especially due to difficult terrains, the provision of special purpose vehicles and critical assets by the NCS Management, along with improved inter-agency coordination, has resulted in positive outcomes at the Seme/Krake joint border post.
The command successfully made 168 interventions in two months, leading to the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg rice, 81,930 liters of petrol, nine vehicles, 1,425 general merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa, 149 packs of codeine, and two locally manufactured guns with a combined DPV of ₦365,888,696.00. Thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, with further actions taken by relevant enforcement agencies.
In conclusion, Mr. Bomodi emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, and Army in effectively securing the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, particularly the Lagos Badagry Expressway, as it serves as a critical entry point accessible through multiple tributaries, including the creeks and the Atlantic Ocean.
Read the original article on DailyNigerian.com
