….to auction Seized Beans to public
In line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally and considering the present economic realities where massive food shortages have been reported across the country, Seme-Krake Joint Border Post has successfully seized a truck load of beans totaling four hundred (400) bags meant for illegal export and other illicit items with a cumulative Duty Paid Value of Three Hundred and Sixty Five million, Eight hundred and Eighty -Eight thousand, six hundred and Ninety -Six Naira only (N365,888,696.00) in two months.
Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi disclosed this on Monday 5th of March 2024 while briefing journalists on the activities of the Command from January 2024 till date, stating that the truck load of beans, totaling four hundred (400) bags has a DPV of Sixty one million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira (N61,450,00.00).
“The seized beans which will soon be auctioned to the public following directives from the Service management, have since been deposited in the Government warehouse for safe keeping and eventual sale to the public, he said.
According to him, “Between January and February 2024, the Command has successfully made 168 interventions which resulted in the seizures of 2,193 bags of 50kg( 3 trailer load equivalent) foreign parboiled rice, 81, 930 litres (3 tankers equivalent), 9 vehicles,1425 General merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149pkgs of codeine and 2 locally manufactured guns. All with a combined Duty Paid Value, DPV, of Three Hundred and Sixty Five million, Eight hundred and Eighty -Eight thousand, six hundred and Ninety -Six Naira only (N365,888,969.00).
“A total of thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, Six of them were granted administrative bails, three were handed over to the NDLEA for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 3 suspects are still in our custody. At this point, it is important to highlight the importance of the Joint Security Meetings held regularly here at the Joint Border Post. These meetings provide valuable intelligence and opportunities to cross fertilize ideas about Border Management. We note that collaboration holds the key to success in border management, that’s why we’ve insisted on information sharing among sister agencies.”
Going further, the Area Controller said “The continuous surveillance of the border by our officers and Men, has resulted in the interceptions of four hundred (400X30liters) of PMS equivalent of 12,000 liters with a DPV of Eight million, three hundred and Forty-Seven thousand, six hundred and Eighty Naira (N8,347,680) in the early hours of Saturday 2nd March, 2024 along the creeks. The PMS Seized will be auctioned in line with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales seized perishable items as directed by the Service.
“These seizures come on the heels of successes in anti-smuggling activities recorded in 2023, which saw 513 seizures of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, General merchandise, drugs/narcotics and vegetable oil. Others were Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00) fake currency, 15 fake international passports, 10 international Drivers licenses, and 152 live birds and other endangered species. All with a Duty Paid Value of over 1.212 billion Naira.
“The Lagos -Abidjan corridor of which the Lagos-Badagry express way is a major composite in a singular passage way accessible via multiple tributaries. Our creeks and the Atlantic traverse this single entry point. That is why collaboration with the Nigeria Navy is imperative and significant.”
Speaking on the export processes by the Command, he disclosed that Seme-Krake Border Post, has processed 184 export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96MT and a FOB of 13.057 billion naira. Total amount collected for NESS was 65.337 million naira, and 24.407 million naira as Export Surcharge for previous imported goods.
“It is important first to highlight the numerous challenges encountered by officers in the course of enforcing government policies, primary among which is the difficult terrain. However, since the provision of special purpose vehicles, and other critical assets by NCS management, and the rejigging of inter agency affairs, things have taken a positive turn here at Seme/Krake joint border post,” he stressed.
On revenue generated so far, Comptroller Bomodi noted that the Command was given a target of 7.875Billion Naira to collect in the current year, which represents an increase of over 400% in collections compared to the target of 2023 with a monthly collectable revenue of 656.258 million naira.
However, In January 2024, the Command collected 643,038,,611.16, while in February, we collected N 517,950,286.14 making a total of N1,160,988,897.30, about 88% of Total expected revenue.
“The shortfall in expected collections can be attributed to total aggregate decline in imports occasioned by the high exchange rate,” he said.
