In a Progress reports of its activities, the Nigeria customs service,Adamawa/Taraba command seized two elephants tusks,126,350kg (2,527 x 50) of foreign parboiled rice, Twelve motor vehicles (12), Twenty two (22) motor vehicles and two hundred and forty (240) bales of second hand clothing.
In a Press briefing in Yola office of the Command,the comptroller,Karmadeen Olumoh said the area under his control records huge successes in anti-smuggling activities where it also seized Cartons of Spaghetti,Buffalo Horns, used tyres and tricycles.
“The most recent being the seizure of Fifty Two (52) drums of Petroleum Product (pms) with each drum containing Two Hundred and Thirty Litres (230ltrs.), totaling Eleven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty litres (11,960ltrs.). The Duty Paid Value for all items seized is Eighty Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Six Naira, Twenty Three Kobo (N80,598,476.23).” He said
Olumoh while reiterating the core functions of the Service remain generation and Collection of revenue, Suppression of Smuggling, Trade Facilitation and Border Security.
He said in the area of revenue generation the Command has witnessed significant progress thereby impacting positively on the morale of officers and men.
“The Command has so far between January to July generated a sum of One Hundred and Five Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Five Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty Eight Naira, Forty Four Kobo (N105,945,138.44). This figure represents a 44.66% increase over the corresponding period of the previous year by (N73.23m).
“When assessed in relation to the revenue target of N86.72m given to the Command for same period, it still marked an increase of 22.17%. So far, the Command has at the end of July, 2019 achieved 71.26% of its annual target. This increase in revenue generation is not unconnected with our efforts in Stake Holder sensitization that has encouraged traders to come forward to make proper declaration of their imported items, mostly agricultural produce.”
He continue to say that the introduction of Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) in April/May this year is playing a major role in encouraging importers to make declarations because of its flexibility, which is in tune with the Federal Government Policy on the Ease of doing business.
In the trade Facilitation he said:
“The Nigeria Customs Service remain very vital to trade facilitation for Nigeria’s economic growth, that’s why the Command has always engaged stakeholders in tackling issues that could hinder trade. Interactive sessions were held in February, April and June 2019.”
While in Engagement with Border Communities he said vital towards effective performance of our functions. Among border communities visited during the period under review, include Gurin, Wurro bokki, Wuro Alhaji, Mubi and Gembu.
“This is all in an effort to encourage the communities to partner with Customs in the battle against smuggling.
There has been strategic and operational collaboration between the Customs Administration of Nigeria and Cameroon on how to manage the Security challenges along our common borders, encourage mutual exchanges and sharing of cross border trade data.” He said
Karmadeen however said that the command is experiencing challenges of
Inadequate number of officers to patrol the vast border line of the Command. This according to him remain a major obstacle considering the fact that the Command boasts of the most expansive borders in the Country consisting of Adamawa and Taraba states.
“However, the ongoing recruitment into the Service will go a long way in boosting the staff strength of the Command.Low volume of trade between Nigeria and Cameroon and bad roads also constitute major obstacles towards revenue generation.”
“The Command and indeed the Service as a whole has been receiving tremendous support of the management in ensuring that welfare of officers is improved upon. The Command just took delivery of Four (4) brand new Operational vehicles that will further enhance the fight against smuggling.” He said
