Oyo/Osun Customs Intercepts 982(50kg) Foreign Parboiled Rice, Other Illegal Items Valued at N2.2 Billion

…Generates Over N18 Billion Revenue in three months

ZAINAB JUNAID

Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intensified it’s anti smuggling activities, intercepted 982(50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice and various Contraband items worth Two Billion, One Hundred and Eighty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand Four Hundred and Forty Naira Only, ₦2,181,860,440.00 for the first quarter of 2024.

Dr. Ben Oramalugo, Customs Area Controller of the Command disclosed this on Wednesday 17, April 2024 while briefing journalists on the performance of the Command for the 1st quarter of the year, saying the street value shows an increase of ₦2,098,515,640:00 (Two Billion, and Ninety-Eight Million, Five Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty Naira) when compared to the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦83,344,800:00 (Eighty-Three Million, Three Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira) recorded during the first quarter of 2023.

Comptroller Oramalugo listed seizures made for the month of March 2024 till date to include Foreign Parboiled Rice 982 (50kg) Bags 86,416,000:00; Canabis Sativa 12 Sacks and 40 wraps (Weighing 80.2kg) 5, 495,000:00; Used Tyres 254 Pieces 24,384,000:00; Secondhand Clothing 6 Sacks 2,557,440:00; Secondhand Clothing 25 Bales 8,880,000:00; African Original Textile Material 27 Bales 12,757,500:00; Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) 494 (25 Litre) Kegs
(Totaling 24,700 Litres) 8,151,000:00; Diazepam Tablet 1 Pack 20 ,000:00; Tramadol 20 Packs 1,000,000:00; DAF Truck (6 Tyres) 1 50,000,000:00; 11 DAF Truck (12 tyres) 1 100,000,000:00 having a total of N299,660,940.00.

In tandem with anti smuggling activities, Comptroller Ben noted that the Area Command has continued to demonstrate commendable performance in revenue collection since the beginning of 2024.

“For the month of March 2024 the Oyo/Osun Area Command collected the sum of ₦5,673,615,718.56 (Five Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Six Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighteen Naira, Fifty-Six Kobo) into the coffers of the Federal Government.

“When added to the sum of ₦12,496,043,684.11 (Twelve Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety-Six Million, and Forty-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Four Naira, Eleven Kobo) already collected for the period of January to February 2024, the cumulative sum of ₦18,169,659,402.67 (Eighteen Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Two Naira, Sixty-Seven Kobo) was collected for the first quarter of the year 2024,” he said.

The Comptroller also acknowledged how the economic challenges currently facing Nigeria- Inflationary pressures, currency fluctuations, and other macroeconomic factors continue to pose significant hurdles to the economic growth and development of the Country, affirming that with strategic planning and collaborative efforts, the present administration will overcome these challenges and steer Nigeria economy towards sustainable recovery.

“Despite the constraints imposed by the prevailing economic conditions, the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in its commitment to duty and service.

“I would like to use this medium to express our gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his Management Team, for initiating various strategies that have enhanced the performance of the Command and have contributed to achieving the core mandate of the Service within Oyo and Osun States.

“We also recognize the vital role that trade facilitation and revenue generation play in driving economic progress, and we are fully committed to fulfilling our mandate with integrity and professionalism” he said.

Meanwhile in a related development, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo Successfully handed over seized counterfeit pharmaceuticals to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

The seized counterfeit pharmaceuticals include:
7 sacks of Augmentin tablets (625mg); 22 sacks of Ampiclox tablets; 24 sacks of Amoxicillin Capsules (500mg), corresponding to a paid value of One Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Nine Million Naira,₦1,739,000,000.00, and it posed a serious threat to public health and safety.