Customs Generated N210m in January in Niger

The Niger Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), generated N210 million internal revenue in January, according to its Comptroller, Alhaji Abba-Kaseem Yusuf.
The NCS official, whose area covers Niger, Kogi and Kwara Commands, told newsmen in Minna, that three vehicles, with a total duty value of N1.5 million, were seized during the period.
“A vehicle conveying 147 (50kgs) bags of imported rice, with a duty value of N300,000 was also intercepted within the period,” he said.
He said that the command had resolved to consolidate on the gains and achievements of the past year, and had vowed to end smuggling in the area.
“We are operationally ready to tackle all challenges, especially areas identified as illegal routes used by smugglers,” he added.
He said that the command was determined to collaborate with critical stakeholders and other sister agencies to arrest and prosecute people involved in illegal business, while plugging holes they were exploiting.
Yusuf called for the involvement of border communities in the anti-smuggling drive of the service, urging residents of the communities to always give intelligence report on movement of suspected smugglers.
Just last December 2018 the men Sokoto state Command also seized a truck containing 300 bags of foreign rice concealed within 350 bags of made in Nigeria ones.
The state Comptroller, Alhaji Nasir Ahmed, disclosed this on Monday at the command’s headquarters while displaying the seized items.
Ahmed said that the team of the state task force had on Dec. 9, intercepted the truck on the Sokoto, Gusau road containing the 650 mixed bags of rice.
He assured that the command would not relent in its effort to ensure that no person or group of persons sabotaged the effort of the NCS and the growth of the nation’s economy.
“We will keep pursuing them to ensure no foreign rice passes our borders, as smugglers can do everything possible to succeed in their unlawful strive,” Ahmed said.
He said that the command would contact manufacturers of the made in Nigeria rice, Labana Rice Mill, from Kebbi state, to ascertain whether the remaining rice were from their company.