The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone C, says it made seizures of contrabands worth over N7.5 billion between January 25, 2023 and April 19, 2024.
Outgoing Comptroller Kolade Kayode disclosed this on Friday in Owerri in his farewell message while handing over to his successor and new Comptroller of the Unit, Mr Michael Ugbagu.
Kayode commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his entire management team, for the trust and confidence bestowed on him to serve as Comptroller FOU Zone C.
The former comptroller Kayode described his successor as a “thorough enforcement guru”.
He further commended officers of the unit for their unparalleled support, commitment, dedication, hard work and prayers, just as he ascribed their support as the reason for his successes.
“With all your support and cooperation, the Unit within my tenure was able to make substantial and spectacular seizures totaling 198 seizures with a duty paid value of N7, 577, 259, 390.
“The seizures were derived from five sacks of Pangolin scales weighing 413.1kg worth N523, 356, 390; and 1,813 bags of 50kg each of foreign parboiled rice worth N105, 105, 000,” he said.
Kayode also said the Unit made a seizure of 815 sacks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 17,950kg and 2,935 parcels (1kg each) weighing 2,935kg totaling 20,885kg worth N1.67 billion.
Other seizures are 31 cartons of DSP/CMC cough syrup with codeine containing 3,600 bottles worth N21.6 million and 52 vehicles including three armored vehicles worth N4.27 billion.
He said nine sacks of 50kg explosive materials/super power90 substance/cables with security implications valued at N12.99 million were also seized within the period.
Kayode noted that 1,807 jumbo bales worth N451.7 million and 48 sacks of used shoes worth N4.8 million were equally seized.
The seized items also included 955 cartons of unregistered expired/various brand of medicaments including Tramadol valued at N238.75 million and 6,457 pieces of used pneumatic tyres worth N9 million.
The seizure further included 364 cartons of foreign spaghetti worth N7.2 million and 4,693 cartons foreign tomatoes paste estimated at N234.65 million.
He said 80 jerrycans of 25kg vegetable oil at N600, 000; 1,329 cartons of foreign Eva soap at N33, 255,000; and 32 jerrycans of 25litres each of PMS valued at N468,000 were equally confiscated.
He said although FOUC was not a revenue-generating unit, lots of lost revenues were recovered to the tune of N155.8 million within his 15 months in office.
According to him, the feat was achieved under his watch based on interventions to checkmate the activities of fraudulent agents at the seaports.
Kayode said he reconstructed and equipped a clinic at the Unit’s office in Owerri, where officers and men, as well as members of the host community enjoyed free healthcare services.
He said that he carved out a spacious office for sports activities with fully installed gym equipment where officers and men exercised their bodies to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
He called on all to extend same support and cooperation to his successor as he piloted the affairs of the unit and wished him well.
In his response, Comptroller Ugbagu commended the CGC and his entire management team for bestowing him with the mandate to oversee the affairs of FOUC.
He further commended Kayode for his “highly commendable” achievements while he held sway and pledged continued compliance with established guidelines.
“We will ensure compliance with the current import and export guidelines using intelligence and technology to drive our operations.
“There will be a watertight security against smuggling activities across the zone.
“Smugglers will be discouraged, frustrated and made uncomfortable, thereby making smuggling, duty evasion and warehousing of smuggled goods unattractive within the zone,” he stated.
Ugbagu called for support and cooperation from the media and the general public to enable him carry out his new assignment.
