By Udeme Clement

The Ondo/Ekiti Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), last year realised over N20 million revenue from excise duties, parcel postal service and duties on second hand (Tokunbo) cars.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the zone, Alhaji Umar Yusuf, said  this in a chat with Sunday Business, stressing that this was the first time the command was raking in such money, as revenue generation capacity before his assumption of office was between N100,000 and N445,000 since the command started operations in the last 30 years.

He added, “Aside from revenue generation, the command also impounded goods with the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N200 million between January and December, last year. The goods were intercepted in over 20 different operations carried out by our officers in the command.

When I took over the command in February last year, I was not impressed with the low revenue profile of the unit. I immediately set up a Task Force which was revenue-driven and within a short period we achieved increase of over 878 per cent, which is the first of its kind since the command was created about three decades ago.”

On how he achieved high revenue profile in the Ondo/Ekiti Command, which is known for low economic activities, he enthused, “We decided to map out new strategies on how to turn the command round for greater productivity.  The seizures we recorded last year were facilitated by vigorous raiding of borders surrounding the states by our men who are also strategically positioned to curb smuggling in the zone.”

According to him: “Apart from our approach in curtailing smuggling in the area, we are also working with relevant stakeholders in the states to ensure that our operations are effectively carried out.