Kwara customs rakes in N1.27 billion. — seizes N25 million contraband in 3 months

Segun Oladipupo |

One of the newly created commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara command has generated N1.27 billion within three months of its creation.

In a press statement made available to public by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Chado Zakari, the command also made a seizure of contraband items worth N25.4 million within the same period.

According to Zakari, the Controller of the command, Comptroller Ahmed Hussaini Bello started the giant stride by generating a whooping sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Million, Nine Hundred and Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty Naira Seventy Two Kobo (N 1, 270, 907,860.72) into federation account.

Recall that the management of Nigeria Customs Service led by Col. Ibrahim Hameed Ali (rtd) recently unbundled and created additional Eight (8) Commands to enhance administrative convenience, boost revenue generation and effective Coverage of the land borders.

In August 2019, the Command generated Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Two Naira (N 980, 652.00)

In September, the Command collected Six Hundred and Ninety Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Ten Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Nine Naira Fifty Kobo (N 697, 810,389.50) which tripped the August revenue.

The statement stated further that the command generated Five Hundred and Seventy Two Million, One Hundred and Sixteen thousand, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Naira twenty two Kobo (N572,116,819.22) in October.

Comptroller Bello was said to have put strategic plans and policies in place to achieve the feat within a short time.

Zekeri added that in his strive to record success in the command, the Controller effected some changes in the command even as he was determined to make the command an illustration of trade facilitation.

The command made seizures of foreign Rice, Petroleum Products and large quantity of Mosquito Coils with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Twenty Five Million, Four Hundred and Three Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N 25,403,500).

The seizures were said to be made around Okuta, Ogundele Ilorin express road, Jebba-Mokwa express road, Maigida-Arogaji Road, Ilorin and Chikanda axis of Kwara State respectively.

Comptroller Ahmed warned economic saboteurs that, the command is poised to enforcing government policy to the later.

The Customs area boss commeneded the management of the service for provision of logistics for ease of operation at the command.

“We remain grateful to the current Management under the dynamic leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) for equipping us with Brand New Patrol Vehicles, other resources and Logistics needed to make our operations more effective and efficient,” he said.