Customs: Kwara Area Command Generates N9.8bn in 2021
By Oyewale Oyelola
…Made 101 Seizures worth about N100m
…Commends Col. Hameed Ali for construction of barracks in Chikanda
The Kwara Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service generated and remitted N9.8million to federation account in 2021.
The Customs Area Controller of
Kwara Area Command, Compt. Hussaini Bello Ahmed fsi disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing newsmen at the office in Ilorin.
Compt. Hussaini Bello Ahmed said surpassed amount generated in 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic.
His words: ” I make bold to say that from January 2021 to December, 2021, the Command has generated and remitted the sum of Nine Billion Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Million Five Hundred and Five Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Two Naira Forty Eight Kobo (N9, 848,505,922.48) which surpass the revenue generated in the year 2020 with Two Billion Nine Hundred and forty two Million Ninety thousand and forty Seven Naira forty Eight kobo (N2, 942,090,047.48).
“Gentlemen of the Press, under my leadership as the pioneer Customs Area Controller from July 2019 to December 2021 (that is about 29 Months) the command has generated and remitted the sum of Nineteen Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, two Hundred and forty Thousand, One hundred and thirty four Naira Nineteen Kobo (N19, 159,240,134.19) to federation account.”
Speaking on the anti-smuggling activities, the comptroller says the command seized large quantity of ammunition packaged in 25 packs of 25 rounds each around Bukuro axis.
According to him, the Command intercepted a Peugeot 504 vehicle with registration number AP 448 AKD containing a large quantity of pump action cartridges suspected to be smuggled into the country. Section 149 of Customs and excise Management Act (CEMA) of April, 1958 Cap 45 LFN 2004 (as amended) gives Customs officers powers to search vehicles/ships.
He added seizure is very commendable at the backdrop of the heightened insecurity in the country as free entry of such arms will be devastating and disastrous.
Ahmed added that Customs officers 402 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, using about Twenty one (21) official patrol vehicles to convey the goods to the Command Headquarters following intelligence report.
“We wish to reiterate that the continuous attack on our officers will not deter us from performing our legitimate duties in Kwara State. I want to warn the perpetrators of this act to desist as any method or techniques used will be uncovered.” He cautioned.
Kwara Area Command reportedly made 101 seizures in 2021 with with Total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N99, 915,050.
These include-:
2,971 Bags of foreign par boiled Rice
3,620 live cartridges as earlier mentioned above with a suspect
420 Jeri cans of PMS
39 Used Vehicles
20 Jeri cans of Vegetable Oil
17 Motorcycles used as a means of conveyance of foreign parboiled Rice and PMS
A total of (5) Suspects arrested within the period under review were released on administrative bail
He applauded Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) for construction of Sixteen (16) man rank and files Barracks at Chikanda and Renovation of Three (3) bedroom flat bungalow for senior officers plus (l30 man rank and files both in Command Headquarters, Ilorin.
Ahmed noted that additional eleven Brand new patrol vehicles have been delivered to the command for patrols and surveillance activities.