The Ogun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) collected about N5.316 billion in revenue in 2012, so said the command’s Area Comptroller, Mr Ade Dosumu.
Dosumu, who disclosed this on Sunday at Idi-Iroko while briefing newsmen, said the figure was an improvement on the N 3.68 billion generated in 2011.
He said the command generated N568.3 million in January as against the N381.76 million it did in January 2012.
“This is remarkable as this amount of revenue has never been attained in the command,’’ he said.
The Ogun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) collected about N5.316 billion in revenue in 2012, so said the command’s Area Comptroller, Mr Ade Dosumu.
Dosumu, who disclosed this on Sunday at Idi-Iroko while briefing newsmen, said the figure was an improvement on the N 3.68 billion generated in 2011.
He said the command generated N568.3 million in January as against the N381.76 million it did in January 2012.
“This is remarkable as this amount of revenue has never been attained in the command,’’ he said.
Dosumu said the command made a total seizure of 1,084 in 2012, with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of about N695 million.
The comptroller said the items seized included vehicles, rice, frozen poultry products and vegetable oil.
Others are textile materials, cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) and bulldozer excavator.
He attributed the improved performance of the command in 2012 to the `dedication’ of officers who, he said, were able to surmount the challenges facing the command.
He said the collaboration and understanding that existed between the officers and communities around the Idi-Iroko border also aided the performance.
“When I assumed the headship of this command in September, 2012, I was able to connect and partner traditional institutions, youths and community leaders of the borderline communities.
“The incidences of attacks on officers by smugglers and youths from these communities have drastically reduced because the youths have become our informants.
“This in a way has helped to boost our revenue collection occasioned by the intensified anti-smuggling campaign,’’ he said.
Dosumu also said there had been increased collaboration and partnership between the command and their counterparts in Benin republic, adding that the development helped to reduce border friction.
He said a joint border security group comprising officers of the two countries had been established with a Memorandum of Understanding signed to that effect.
While admitting that some of the officials of the command had been wounded in the course of operations, Dosumu declared that such incidents would not deter the command from waging war against smugglers.
The comptroller, who pledged that the command would not relent in its efforts to prosecute smugglers, said that about 25 cases were at various stages of investigation and prosecution.
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