The Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service in Kaduna has collected more than N4.6 billion between January and June, the Acting Zonal Controller, Alhaji Abdulkarim Hussaini, has said.
Hussaini said in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Kaduna that the money generated was however below the target set for the zone.
“With the upsurge in local rice production in Nigeria, the revenue customs often generated from the importation of the commodity has dropped to about 50 per cent.
“This has consequently affected the revenue of the zone.''
The Zone ‘B’ of the Nigeria Customs Service in Kaduna has collected more than N4.6 billion between January and June, the Acting Zonal Controller, Alhaji Abdulkarim Hussaini, has said.
Hussaini said in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Kaduna that the money generated was however below the target set for the zone.
“With the upsurge in local rice production in Nigeria, the revenue customs often generated from the importation of the commodity has dropped to about 50 per cent.
“This has consequently affected the revenue of the zone.''
NAN reports that the zone comprises of the FCT, Kaduna/Katsina, Kano/Jigawa, Niger/Kwara/Kogi and Sokoto/Kebbi/Zamfara commands.
The acting controller also said a total of 507 seizures valued at more than N670.1 million were made during the period.
Hussaini disclosed that 15 suspected smugglers were arrested during the period, while 280 smuggled cars were intercepted.
The controller said the zonal command was working closely with other agencies like the army, police, NDLE and EFCC to ensure that no contraband was allowed into the country.
He disclosed that 150 customs officers from the zone were undergoing provost course at the Nigeria Army School of Military Police, Basawa-Zaria, Kaduna State.
Hussaini added that more officers had been selected from Niger/Kogi/Kwara command to undergo training on proper weapons handling.
He commended the Controller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde for the provision of logistics to the various commands and improvement in staff welfare, saying that the gesture had helped to enhance productivity.
Meanwhile, an importer based in Imo State Chief Benjamin Otika stated that it has been on record that the Nigeria Custom Service Abia/Imo Command has made tremendous success in recent times by obstructing smugglers who have devised the state as their route.
He also called the Nigeria Customs Service to make Maritime Industry friendly for genuine importers and commended the Controller Dimka for the giant stride in the decisive struggle against smuggling in Abia and Imo States which had erupted in recent times.
In the same vein, another business magnet Chief Edmond Amah who based in Aba, Abia State and implored the Federal Government to entrust or transfer the function of Standard Orgainization of Nigeria (SON) to Nigeria Customs Service so as to stop or forestall importation of fake and adulterated products in the country.
Discussion about this post