By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it generated revenue of 21.95 billion from January to date.
It said that the revenue collected represented 89.3 per cent of its target for 2018, adding that the command also intercepted contraband goods with duty paid value of N133.84 million during the period.
The Controller of Customs in the area, Mr Abdulah Zulkibli, said this on Thursday in Ibadan at a news briefing.
He expressed optimism that the command would surpass the N24.8 billon revenue target given to it by the Federal Government for 2018.
Zulkibli said that the goods seized by the command were 310 bags of 50kg of foreign rice, eight used vehicles and 600 kegs of 25-litre vegetable oil.
Other items impounded, he said, were cannabis sativa, 25 bales of second-hand clothing and 33 means of conveyance, adding that the seizures were made at different locations within the command.
He disclosed that 10 persons had been apprehended in connection with the impounded goods and would be prosecuted.
Zulkibli said that most of the contraband goods were conveyed in commercial buses and cars meant for transporting people and goods “but converted to perpetrate this dastardly act’’.
“The law that prohibits the importation of rice and used vehicles through Nigeria’s borders is not new and those who claim ignorance of the ban have no excuse.
“Our revenue collection has remarkably improved in 2018 compared to N17.6 billion generated from January to December, 2017.
Zulkibli said the achievement of the command was made possible by the continued support and encouragement of Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd).
He called on the media to support the command in enlightening the public on the danger of smuggling, saying that customs alone could not do it.
