Comptroller warns economic saboteurs, declares N11.6bn revenue generation in two months

By Abiodun OBA

The Comptroller of the Oyo/Osun Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Dr Ben Oramalugo, said on Friday warned individuals with intentions aimed at sabotaging the nation’s economic development to steer clear of the command’s coverage area.

Speaking at his maiden press briefing held at the Area Command headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, Comptroller Oramalugo decried the manner in which Customs operatives are usually attacked and killed while performing legitimate duties.

The Comptroller praised the collaborative efforts of other security agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Air Force, Department of State Services, NDLEA, Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps, as well as Operation Burst, and expressed appreciation to the Oyo and Osun governments for providing enabling environments for Customs officers and men to perform their statutory functions.

On the Command’s revenue generation drive, Oramalugo disclosed that the Oyo/Osun Area Command generated a sum of N11,679,732,573.91 billion as revenue into the coffers of the federal government within September and October this year.

This, he said, was achieved through rigorous enforcement measures and strategic initiatives since his assumption of duty almost eight weeks ago, adding that it had contributed to the nation’s economic growth.

When added to the ones collected between January and August, the revenue, he said, totaled N59,087,983,670.64 billion for 10 months.

According to him, “This feat is made possible by our resolve to continue to prioritise trade facilitation, religiously enforce provisions of our existing laws aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, implement various measures to simplify customs processes, reduce bureaucracy within the system with the aim of promoting legitimate trade, and foster a conducive business environment for excuse traders operating within the Command’s area of responsibility.”

The Comptroller stated further that during the period under review, the Area Command intercepted smuggled goods, including two truckloads of 1,248 bags of 50 kg of foreign parboiled rice with a duty-paid value of N27.456 million.

Others are 425 kegs of 25-litre Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) with N2.125 million as duty-paid value, used clothing and bags worth N4.5 million, 492 pieces of used tyres worth N2.952 million, and a Dane Gun worth N9,000.

In a similar vein, operatives of the Customs Area Command intercepted 64 sacks and 150 wraps of compressed cannabis sativa from various axes.

The intercepted illicit drug, weighing 777.5kg, was valued at N14,138,460 million and was handed over to the Deputy Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Oyo State, Luka Yerima, after the briefing.

The Comptroller also showed journalists the six brand new Toyota Landcruiser (Buffalo) 2022 model operational vehicles and one ambulance given to Area Command by the Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, to aid its operatives in the fight against smuggling.

He said that the vehicles are strongly built to navigate areas that had hitherto been impenetrable.

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