How Oyo/Osun Customs Command Generated N18.1B In 3 Months

The Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command, has announced the collection of a cumulative sum of ₦18,169,659,402.67 in revenue between January and March 2024, marking a significant milestone in revenue generation.

Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, 17 April 2024, at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, highlighted the Command’s multifaceted activities during this period, including revenue generation, anti-smuggling efforts, and enforcement of Federal Government policies amidst ongoing economic challenges.

“These achievements were recorded despite prevailing economic challenges,” Comptroller Oramalugo emphasised.

“Customs officers have worked tirelessly to facilitate trade while ensuring compliance with the Service’s regulations.”

He further stated, “This act of resilience and dedication in ensuring the efficient collection of customs duties and taxes underscores the Command’s commitment to contributing to the economic stability of our great nation, Nigeria.”

The Customs Area Controller reported that the Command collected ₦5,673,615,718.56 in March 2024, adding to the ₦12,496,043,684 collected for January and February 2024, resulting in the cumulative sum of ₦18,169,659,402.67 for the first quarter of 2024.

Comptroller Oramalugo elaborated on the intensified anti-smuggling activities undertaken by the Oyo/Osun Customs Area Command to safeguard borders and protect Nigeria’s economy from illicit trade practices.

“The act of smuggling poses a grave threat to our national security and economic stability, and we are committed to combating this menace with unwavering resolve,” he added.

He highlighted the collaborative efforts with other law enforcement agencies in intelligence-sharing, resulting in the interception of various prohibited items, including Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol Tablets, Foreign Parboiled Rice, Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), Second-Hand Clothing, and Used Tyres.

He disclosed that for the first quarter of 2024, the Area Command intercepted and seized uncustomed items with a Duty Paid Value of ₦2,181,860,440, indicating a significant increase compared to the Duty Paid Value of ₦83,344,800 recorded during the first quarter of 2023.

Speaking further, Comptroller Oramalugo also extended appreciation to Sister Security Agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, NDLEA, Oyo State Operation Burst, and Amotekun Corps for their collaborative efforts in promoting compliance, combating smuggling, and upholding the rule of law.

In another development, the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has successfully handed over seized counterfeit pharmaceuticals to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) with a Duty Paid Value of ₦1,739,000,000.

The handing over ceremony, according to a separate press statement issued and signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs, Wey Kayode, took place at the Operational Headquarters of the Oyo/Osun Area Command in Ibadan on Wednesday, 17 April 2024.

The seized counterfeit pharmaceuticals, according to the statement, posed a severe threat to the public health and safety of Nigerians, including 7 sacks of Augmentin tablets, 22 sacks of Ampiclox tablets, and 24 sacks of Amoxicillin Capsules.

The statement said, “These counterfeit drugs were intercepted by vigilant Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Area Command during a routine patrol operation.”

The Customs Area Controller, however, handed over the seized pharmaceuticals to the Zonal Director of NAFDAC for further investigation and appropriate action.