*Rakes N4,427,112,437.81 billion in September

By Ifeyinwa Obi
SEME Customs Command has disclosed that its anti smuggling and enforcement activities is yielding positive results, saying that it is in line with Comptroller General of Customs zero tolerance on corruption.

Its Customs Area Comptroller, Alhaji Kura Maitama, who disclosed this to CustomsWatchnoted that the command has collected a cumulative sum of N4,427,112,437.81 billion of the N6 billion target for 2010.

According to him, “This Command was given a revenue target of N6 billion for t he year and am glad to inform you that as at 30th September 2010, the Command had collected a cumulative sum of N4,427,112,437.81 billion of the target.

The amount collected in the month of September, 2010 when compared with a similar period last year (2009), will show an increase of about 30.56% per cent. Whereas the sum of N326,874,417.42 was collected as revenue in September  2010, the sum of N250,370,317.26 was collected as revenue for September 2009.

Meanwhile, with about three weeks into the month of October 2010, the Command has collected the sum of N198,166,065.28 as revenue. This brings the cumulative total collected for the year to N4,625,278,503.09.”

Maitama further noted tha a total of 314 trucks of ETLS compliant goods were imported  into the country in the month of September.

“We are greatly facilitating legal trade at the border. The ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) Unit, a total of 314 trucks of ETLS compliant goods were imported  into the country in the month of September. The revenue loss, (not because of Customs negligence but because of our accession to the Scheme) was N277,716,028.29.

Three weeks into the month of October 2010, the ETLS Unit also treated 170 trucks of ETLS compliant goods with a  revenue loss of  N118,301,990.94  goods  imported under the Scheme which included Blue Band Margarine, Palm Kernel Nuts etc,” he added.