*says our border is fully secured
*laments swampy and aquatic  terrain in Seme
*We made a total of 55 Seizures in  September
*says ASCYUDA is working

By Ifeyinwa Obi

How has your command performed in terms of revenue generation?
This Command was given a revenue target of N6 billion for the 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.

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.

The Command also treated 117 Trucks of exportable goods with an FOB  Value ofN722,850,954.08 in the month of September 2010. So, far in the month of October 2010, a total of 86 trucks of exportable goods with an  FOB Value of N424,585,26 1.75 were treated. Goods commonly exported through the Command include bathroom slippers, plastics etc.

Smuggling is one of the things that stout revenue, how has the fight been at the boarder?
As you already know that Seme Border is the busiest border in Nigeria and also a major gateway to the West African Sub-region.  It may interest you to know that the Command is still keeping faith with the Customs Comptroller General’s  six point  Agenda and  Zero tolerance on smuggling.

It is a no-go area for any sorts of smuggling activities. Our border is fully secured and its not easy as such because all the goods are being off loaded from the container and we examine them before there are loaded back in a truck. So it is not that easy to smuggle, but each time we come across contraband or any  good that is liable for seizure, we go ahead and consificate.

So far the anti smuggling and enforcement activities of the Command has continued to yield positive results. With logistics graciously provided by the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi  Dikko  Inde (OFR) our patrols have been intensified to make the border more secured.

We made a total of 55 Seizures in the month of September 2010. The Duty Paid Valued (DPV) for the Seizures amount to N64,174,626.00. The Command had also made about 25 Seizures within three weeks of October 2010. The increased rate of Seizures has brought about a reduction in the rate of smuggling.

This is a  manifestation of the Commands Zero tolerance for smuggling and we hope to sustain the tempo. It is important to note that the monthly DPV of the seizures made under my watch, remains the highest  so far in the Command for 2010.

Talking about smuggling sir, there are speculations that some group of people or individual are bringing in fire arms into the country, maybe because of the upcoming election. Have you encountered any arms coming through your post?

Arms and ammunition pass through this boarder? No way. It is a no go area for any sorts of arms and amunition. Like I said earlier, our boarder is fully secured.

It is not possible, because its like almost all the goods that pass through the boarder under go 100% examination and it is done in the open with the other security agencies. For instance we suspected two trucks last week after it has been examined, I ordered that the trucks be detained and we took the truck to our barracks, invited the owner.

When he came we practically brought down all the goods in the trucks and searched it thoroughly and we did not see anything and we left the truck because the owner paid his correct duty, its just that we were suspecting the truck. As you already know that Seme Border is the busiest boarder iNigeria and also a major gateway to the West African Sub-region.

So we are atm    os carefull to make sure that such does not happen because itt boarder .os carefull to make sure that ecause it is not good for our great country. We have  intensified the patrol of the border through the establishment of roving and crack patrol teams.  The patrol teams now comb all the illegal routes in the bush and swamp areas to forestall incidence of arms importation.

As I speak with you we have not had any of such incidence but we have resolved that the 100% destination inspection cannot be compromised.
The media as you know have always been our good friends because of our symbiotic relationship. However, I read with dismay a report  in one of the Weekly Magazines containing fallacies about the Command. The report was the imagination of the writer, intended to blackmail my person and all the Security agencies at Seme Border.

As you already know that Seme Border is the busiest border in  recall that during my inaugural press briefing upon my resumption  of duty here, I brought you up to date on our activities here and enjoined you to be partners in progress with me by cross-checking and verifying whatever information you have with me before going to press with it, as a mark of  responsible and professional journalism. I also told you that my doors are open to all and sundry. The report in question was not only false and malicious, it was also tasteless and insensitive in light of the nations precarious security situation today.

Publications touching on the security of this country must be done with very deep thoughts and consideration for there likely and possible consequences. I want to  use this opportunity to categorically state that the said  report in question is a lie. I never discussed any such issues with the reporter.

What are the challenges you have encountered so far at the boarder?
Challenges that we have here has a lot to do with the swampy and aquatic  terrain  which hampers patrol. If you look around now you will see that every where is flooded and this makes it difficult for my men to comb the nooks and cranny of the boarder. You know here it is mostly here, all the illegal routes needs consistent monitoring to forestall any form of smuggling.

again dearth of residential accommodation which the Comptroller General is addressing presently, we hope that in no distance time, that would be resolved. We are also trying to see if we can make out an area where examination of goods will bo taking place. The absence of a holden area for examinations of goods which is presently conducted on the highway thereby impeding traffic and giving room for unnecessary suspicion by passers by is a challenge and we are trying to resolve that as well.

Has Asycuda helped in trade facilitation?
Asycuda works here and it has gone a long way in facilitating trade. It has assisted in quick clearance procedure and it is an IT based solutions to confront problems bedeviling our duty payment system.

We have also gone a long way in facilitating trade at the boarder. Under my watch at this Command, our relationship with our Beninoise counterpart has been further strengthened. So far, we have reached an advanced stage for the resuscitation of the Cross border Security meeting between Nigerian Security Agencies and their Benin counterparts.

Also, the relationship between this Command with other Security Agencies in Nigeria and Community leaders had been accentuated by regular meeting with them.

We are compliant with extant import policies and the clearance of goods within 48 hours. In conjunction with other relevant agencies, we jointly conduct physical examination of goods to minimize  clearance time. With progress report received from the Globalscan, there is indication that the fixed scanner would soon be in place.

Our performance had been greatly buoyed by our Comptroller General, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi through  the provision of welfare packages and basic logistics. I am also fortunate to be working with very had working, diligent and dedicated  officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service. Our level of disciplines are very high and commendable.