…Records 3,189 Seizures Worth Over N35 Billion in two and half years
ZAINAB JUNAID
In what seems to be an exceptionally busy period as one has to deal with a rapid succession of important events and situations, many of which are still unfolding due to redeployment of Area Controllers from one Zonal Unit or Command to another. Comptroller Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos was not left out of the transition process as he has been transferred to the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters, Abuja.
During a media briefing held at the Unit’s Headquarters, Lagos, on Friday, April 19, 2024, Comptroller Ejibunu recounted his overall activities since his assumption of duty as the Area Controller of FOU A from September 20, 2021 to April 19, 2024.
At the briefing, which is the last to be held under his leadership, Comptroller Ejibunu appreciated the management, officers and men of Zone A Unit for their untiring support, dedication, gallantry and uncompromising posture in the fight against smuggling and revenue recovery.
“You worked both day and night to ensure that the successes we recorded were achieved. Unfortunately, while on legitimate duties within Zone’s area of operations, eight (8) officers sustained different degrees of injuries while five (5) lost their lives in the line of duty; may their souls rest in peace through the mercy of God (amen),” he stated.
He equally appreciated the unwavering support of the media saying their true allies by informing and updating the public about the activities of the Unit has been worthwhile.
Ejibunu recounted how his journey of leadership of the Unit that commenced on the 10th September, 2021 till date was a bit challenging but above all, very successful.
To him, “A part of the challenges encountered when I assumed duty newly was the continued rate of suspected smugglers attacks on officers while on duty. To mitigate such levels of attacks, the Unit embarked on sensitisation programmes and courtesy visits to traditional rulers of border communities which yielded a drastic reduction in the levels of deadly confrontations and attacks.
“I cannot hurriedly forget the cooperation of most of the traditional rulers such as the Onipokia of Ipokia Kindom, Ogun State; Oba Yisa Sola Adeniyi Adelakun Olaniyan (JP), the Alake of Egba Land, Ogun State; Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, and the Olu of Ilaro/Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, Ogun State; His Royal Majesty, Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, who visited the Unit twice to commiserate with the officers and men over the loss of some gallant men on duty.”
Speaking further, he said “Other successes recorded by the Unit under my watch include; improved suppression of smuggling by making more seizures and the arrest of suspects served as a deterrent to intending smugglers. Increased revenue recovery through meticulous documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on goods found to have underpaid, Enhanced trade facilitation by providing escorts for goods on fast track for compliant traders, among others.
“From the 10th September 2021 till date, a total of 3,189 seizures were recorded with a duty paid value of Thirty-five Billion, Nine Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Twelve Naira Only ( ₦35,908,331,412.00) and a sum of three hundred and eighty-six (386) suspects arrested in connection with some of the seizures. While twenty-two (22) people were convicted for committing different Customs offences.
“Prominent among the seizures but not limited to the following are: 222,285 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (370 Trailer loads); 1,140,864 Litres of premium motor spirit (33 Tankers); 16,432.30kg of Indian Hemp; 26,303 pieces of used pneumatic tyres; 11,175 Bales of used clothes; 751x 70mm of live cartridges; 12,912 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products; 5,033 pieces of donkey skin; 450 x 106kg drums of carbide; 233 cartons x 225mg of tramadol; 7,640 cartons of expired and unapproved drugs; 303 Units of foreign used vehicles; and 104 Haojue motorcycles.
“The Unit recovered the sum of Two Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Five Hundred and Fourty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira, Fourty-Eight Kobo N2,256,549,232.48 through the issuance of demand notices (D/N) due to transfer of value and wrong classification.
“Let me use this medium to express my profound gratitude to compliant traders, importers and agents for being patriotic and sincere in their declarations, and for being compliant with the extant Customs procedures. My gratitude also goes to patriotic members of the public for providing useful and timely information that aided the success of some of our operations,” He concluded.
