Custom seized contraband goods worth N67million

By Ifeoma Ikem

The Acting Controller federal operation unit (FOU) ‘A’ hits the ground running; makes spectacular seizures of contrabands worth over N67million in one week

The Acting Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Usman Yahaya has continued to live up to his statutory responsibilities especially in the area of anti-smuggling operations

The spoke person of the unit,Jerry Attah stated this through press statement that barely one week in office, his quest for outstanding performance using credible intelligence has begun to yield positive results with the interception of 2,065 jerrycans of vegetable oil 25liters each, 1,185 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 1500 jerrycans (25lts) of diesel, with a duty paid value of Sixty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira only (67,362,500.00) between January 7th -14th January 2020 along different unapproved routes within our areas of coverage.

According to him the feat was recorded as a result of series of meetings held with our sectional heads, team/patrol leaders where he unveiled the management’s mandate bestowed on him which includes blockage of all revenue leakages, trade facilitation and intensification of anti-smuggling operations at various entry points: Seaports, land borders, and Airport within our areas of jurisdiction in the south west zone. DC Yahaya warned smugglers and ‘would be’ of the danger that lies ahead for them if they do not engage in legitimate trade, as some have started counting their losses
“You will agree with me that the fight against smuggling can only be won if all hands are on deck”. He called on all the members of the media and the general public to support the fight against smuggling by providing necessary intelligence that could assist the service in reducing smuggling to its barest minimum.

Meanwhile, DC Yahaya’s redeployment was part of the Comptroller-General’s strategies to re-jig and reposition the Service for greater efficiency and effectiveness especially in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation as well as combating smuggling.
DC Usman Yahaya is a quintessential and an enforcement guru who hitherto was the Coordinator of Strike Force, Zone ‘A’, before he was posted to FOU ‘A’ as the Acting Controller. He took over on Tuesday 7th January 2020, from Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed, who was elevated based on his record to a new assignment as the Acting Sector 4 Commander of Border Drill Operations code named Ex-Swift Response.

The assumption of office by Usman Yahaya at FOU ‘A’, naturally, has sent panic to all smugglers and non-compliant traders knowing very well his antecedents as an Enforcement Czar.

Acting Comptroller Yahaya thanked the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service for considering him worthy and assured he will work assiduously with all officers to justify the confidence reposed on him.