By IFEOMA IKEM
Seme Command,Customs Service (NSC) has made 824 seizures with total value of N413.3miilion and contributed N22.48million into federation account as revenue between January to June 2020
Hussaini Abdullahi, Public Relations Officer, Seme command confirmed this through a mid-year press statement issued recently.
According to him, the revenue figure were proceeds realized from auction sales of seized perishables items, which is in line with customs and excise management act provision.
The acting Area Controller of the command, Dalha Cheidi Wada, has intensified its anti smuggling activities while strengthening inter agency collaboration in the national interest.
The seizures comprises of 79 vehicles and other items in the import prohibition list including trade goods being brought into the country in defiance to extant rules.
A breakdown of the seizures made indicates 3,236 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice;136,350 litres of Premium Motor Spirit; 79 Unit of Vehicles, used and means of conveyance for smuggled items; 1,302 cartons of frozen poultry products 156 parcels of cannabis sativa 156 jerry cans of vegetable oil (25litres each) 7,763 general merchandise items.
“Recall that Nigeria government had in August, 20th 2019, closed its land borders, placing temporary embargo on the movement of goods through the land borders nationwide to curb rice smuggling, increasing insecurity across the country.
“The successes recorded are as a result of designed and implemented strategies adopted since assumption of office as Ag. Area Controller, and renewed synergy between different components of anti-smuggling units.
“It also assisted the Command in forming a formidable force that help to counter the activities of smugglers within nooks and crannies of Seme Command.
“Finally, I wish to call on the public to cooperate with the service to succeed in its anti-smuggling crusades and refrain from unnecessary hostilities when officers are performing their lawful duties.
He also urged them to take the advantage of various federal government intervention programme and key into them for a legitimate means of livelihood, ” he said.