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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, Lagos has released its half year result which shut up earnings to N2.5bn between January to June 2017.

Detailed report contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Command’s PRO, Mr. Jerry Attah traced the feat to intensified anti-smuggling operations which lead to several key interceptions of various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) N1,295,600,724.95

The report further noted that “The unit through its interventions recovered N1,286,730,671.90 from duty payments and demand notices on general goods that tried to beat the system from seaports, airport and border stations through wrong classification, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the Federal Government of Nigeria, making a cumulative of  NN2,582,331,396.90.”

Additional details of successes recorded within the period under review showed that about 95 suspects were arrested in connection to these seizures and 475 different seizures were recorded comprising foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, smuggled vehicles, Indian hemp, arms, fake pharmaceutical/medicaments and various general merchandise. (See attached breakdowns below)

In his remarks after the release of the report, the Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service for their efforts in recognizing hard work and putting square begs in square holes. Without the Management motivation and necessary logistic support, we won’t have achieved this feat within this period.

Comptroller Uba further commended the commitment and diligence of the Officers and Men of the FOU ‘A’ for thwarting the antics of some dare devil smugglers who used different methods for concealment. He charged all his officers to be professional and diligent in performing their statutory responsibilities; most especially in the area of anti-smuggling operations by making sure all revenue linkages are blocked.

He noted that “smuggling is a global phenomenon, which cannot be curbed entirely but can be brought to its barest minimum”.

“This feat was not unconnected with the courtesy calls he paid to some key stakeholders most especially sister security agencies within our areas of jurisdiction comprising the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos; Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Cantonment Ikeja; Commander, 35 Artillery, Nigerian Army, Alamala Baracks Abeokuta, Ogun State; Commissioners of Police, Ogun and Lagos State where he seeks for their continuous support and cooperation towards winning the war against smuggling.

Comptroller Uba however, called for supports and partnership with the Nigerian media to drive the ongoing advocacy campaign against the evil of smuggling to the nation’s economy and provides necessary intelligence that could assist the NCS.

FOU Ikeja January-June Report

SEIZURE PROFILE JANUARY-JUNE 2017