The Kebbi State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a tremendous success in the area of revenue generation for the month of March under review with a generation of the sum of one hundred and forty four million, eight hundred and sixty two thousand, and three hundred and seventy two naira (₦144,862,372).
According to the Area Comptroller, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, this represents 164% of the monthly target despite elections that took place in the month which undoubtedly affected the volume of import of goods into the country.
The Comptroller, stated that, the Command’s annual target is one billion, fifty eight million, seven hundred and two thousand four hundred and sixty six naira (₦1,058,702,466) for the year 2023.
“We are now exploring ways on how to address a major challenge identified by our stakeholders of multiple taxation from our neighbouring countries before their goods arrive at Kamba, the only border currently open under this Command”.
Dr. Oramalugo, revealed that, meetings held with trading communities on board in a deliberate and conscious effort to forge a common ground, stressed the need for compliance and enjoined them to adhere strictly to extant guidelines on import and export of goods.
The Comptroller stated that, on 29th March, he received credible intelligence of ongoing smuggling activities of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at an AP filling station at Yauri in Yauri Local Government of Kebbi State, where instantly detailed his officers and men to rush to the scene, stop the illegal activity and seal up the filling station.
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He said, the joint patrol teams, upon arriving at the filling station, cordonned off the entire area, sealled the filling station and started evacuation of all the kegs of PMS already loaded for onward smuggling out of the country through one of the waterways in Yauri.
“While the evacuation was ongoing, the criminals who had fled the scene upon sighting our vehicles, later mobilized themselves and came back with some thugs in order to resist the evacuation, but our men stood their ground until we received reinforcement from the Nigerian Army who helped us in dispersing the crowd”.
He said, the personnel were able to evacuate three hundred and four (304) kegs of PMS of 25 liters each, sealed up the filling station along with (6) petrol tankers inside.
Items seized during the period under review includes 16,375 liters of PMS, 210 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 34 bales of second hand cloths, 109 cartons of confectionaries, among others with a Duty Paid Value of twenty three million, one hundred and forty one thousand, and eight hundred and three naira (23,141,803).