By Ifeyinwa Obi
The Area Controller (CAC), Ondo/Ekiti Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Yusuf Umar has stated that the command has raked in N16 million from excise duties, parcel postal service and duties on Tokunbo cars in the last eight months

Umar who disclosed during a visit to Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, at his palace in Akure, the Ondo State capital, noted that the command has made appreciable progress in generating income for the Federal Government.
He explained that the command seized goods valued at about N150 million between January and August, this year, saying, “the goods were intercepted in 20 different operations carried out by officers in the command”

He said that the seizures were facilitated by the vigorous raiding of the borders surrounding the state by officers of his command.

The comptroller  solicited for the support of the monarchs in the state towards fighting against the activities of smugglers. According to him, “the war against smugglers can be won with the cooperation of relevant stakeholders.  I therefore solicit for your to be able to carry out its duty efficiently” he said.

In his response the royal father appealed to the Federal Government to increase the age of used cars being imported into the country to 15 years from the current mandatory 10 years  noting that the vehicles which manufacturing years fall below 10 years are expensive.

He said: “Those who can afford new cars are not too many. That is why government should change its policy by allowing cars manufactured after 15 years to be imported into the country I am not saying the nation should be turned to a dumping ground but we must consider the downtrodden masses”.  He said that the greatest challenge before him is how to reduce the activities of miscreants in Akure and its environs.

“We need to work together to ensure that the bad name given to Akure Kingdom is removed. It is not funny today that we have Field Marshals and Generals, who are indigenes of Akure but are noted for thuggery,” he added.