The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command, has realised a huge sum of N3.5 billion in the first quarter of 2014, which constitutes 57 per cent of its quarterly revenue target. The Command also recorded a total of 399 vehicles, with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N33.4million, as against 329 vehicles, with total duty collection of N32.4million, made the same period in 2013. The current revenue collection shows an increase of N940,987.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Mr. Oteri Richard, disclosed this in a chat with Vanguard, saying that the revenue was derived directly from excise duties and vehicles.

He said, “A total of 3,234 bags of rice with DPV of 43million were recorded within the first quarter of the year. The Command also made seizures of 61 vehicles with DPV of N40million.  A total of 16,343 cartons of frozen poultry products with a DPV of N103.7million were intercepted. I will like to use this opportunity to reiterate the Command’s resolve to rid the Oyo/Osun States axis off unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in smuggling to the detriment of the local economy.”

On the logistics capacity of the Command, he stressed, “The current Customs management has equipped us with the work tools and logistics needed to make our operations more effective. It is expected that there will be increase in revenue through voluntary vehicle duty payment, as the Command is making efforts to break new frontiers in terms of host community engagements and good working relationship between officers and the border communities.”

He went on, “We recorded 124 seizures with the DPV of N198.6million as against 33 seizures with DPV of 75.6million in 2013. This shows an increase of 99 seizures in 2014, above that of 2013, as well as 123million increase in DPV over last year.  The strategic and momentous seizures among them include 30.000 live cartridges.   The arms were concealed with yam tubers and bags of dried cassava tubers.  The main suspect, Abdulraheem Adegoke, has since been handed over to the Police for further investigation into the matter.”