Customs Recover Over N70bn In Osun/Oyo In 12 Months

The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service said its unwavering commitment to combating smuggling activities has resulted in recovering a total of N71,292,530,398.17 (Seventy-One Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety-Two Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Eight Naira, Seventeen Kobo) for the 2023 fiscal year.

The Area Controller, Ben Oramalugo, while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters on Friday in Ibadan, said the significant development has contributed to the nation’s economic development despite the global and local challenges that impacted trade.

Oramalugo maintained that it was made possible through fair and efficient revenue collection, continuous implementation of measures to further simplify customs processes.

He further restated the resolve of officers and men of the command to work tirelessly while religiously enforcing provisions of the next extant laws aimed at facilitating legitimate trade and ensuring that customs duties and taxes were collected efficiently.

According to him, “During the period covering November and December 2023, the Oyo/Osun Area Command collected the sum of N5,030,694,597.05 (five billion and thirty million, six hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and ninety-seven naira), and N7,173,852,130.48 (seven billion, one hundred and seventy-three million, eight hundred and fifty-two thousand, one hundred and forty-eight Kobo), respectively, into the Federation and Non-Federation Accounts.”

“When added to the sum of N59,087,983,670.64 (fifty-nine billion and eighty-seven million, nine hundred and eighty-three thousand, six hundred and seventy naira, and sixty-four kobo) already collected from January to October 2023, the cumulative sum of N71,292,530,398.17 (seventy-one billion, two hundred and ninety-two million, five hundred and thirty thousand, three hundred and ninety-eight naira, and seventeen kobo) was collected for the fiscal year 2023,” he highlighted.

The area Controller of Customs also highlighted the seizures made between the year 2023 and the early month of January 2024, which are: “88 (eighty-eight) sacks and 349 (three hundred and forty-nine) wraps of cannabis sativa with a DPV of N47,854,800.00 (forty-seven million, eight hundred and fifty-four thousand, eight hundred naira).”

100,900 (one hundred thousand, nine hundred) litres, equivalent to 4,036 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with a DPV of N18,220,400.00 (eighteen million, two hundred and twenty thousand, four hundred naira only).”

“9,595 (Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Five) (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice with a DPV of N181,915,800.00 (one hundred and eighty-one million, nine hundred and fifteen thousand, eight hundred naira) and 35 (thirty-five) units of used vehicles with a DPV of 134,196,800.00 (one hundred and thirty-four million, one hundred and ninety-six thousand, eight hundred naira).”

“177 (one hundred and seventy-seven) bags and 13 (thirteen) sacks of second-hand clothing with a DPV of 53,640,000.00 (fifty-three million, six hundred and forty thousand Naira).”

“3,702 (three thousand seven hundred and two) pieces of used tyres with a DPV of 11,227,200.00 (eight million, two hundred and twenty-seven thousand, two hundred Naira) and 100 pieces of uncut timber with a DPV of 7,700,000.00 (seven million, seven hundred thousand Naira).”