PRESS BRIEFING                                                       18TH JULY, 2019

PROTOCOL

In today’s world, media becomes as essential as our daily needs and that is why I took it as a point of duty to visit all the Media outfit in Minna, the State Capital and recently to Nigeria Union of Journalist(NUJ) Niger State Chapter.

We all know that the media influence, persuade, pressurize society, along with even controlling the world at times in both positive and negative ways. That is why I invited you to this Bi-annual briefing to intimate the public of both the negative and positive role for the Command.

Yes! Positive and Negative … Negative role to economy saboteur with a forewarning that the Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command has restrategize to apprehend those who want to cut corners through aggressive anti-smuggling response as part of the CGC Zero tolerance to smuggling. I urge you all to spread the gospel to them, to steer clear of the Command, as no stone will be left unturned. It will be a Negative story to them because we are positioned to seal off and check all excesses of their smuggling activities. The Command will play a Positive role to those who are ready to carry out their legitimate Businesses, as Trade facilitation is one of my cardinal points; the Command is ever ready to support the stakeholders who are ready to follow the laid down rules and regulations of the service.

REVENUE

The Command is not relenting on its efforts to surpass its recorded successes last year, since my assumption on duty here as Customs Area Controller.

This year 2019, the Command target is put at Three Billion Fifty One Million Six Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand Seven Hundred and Four Naira Fifty One Kobo (N 3, 051,699,704.51) out of which we had so far generated One Billion Seven Hundred and Nine Million Six Hundred and Sixty three Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Eight Naira Eight Kobo (N 1,709,663,828.08) which represent 56% of the annual target.

Like any other month, the Command was able to surpass the monthly target with Thirty Two Million Six Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Five Naira Two Kobo (N32,685,755.2).

The Command generated Two Hundred and Seventy Seven Million Nine Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Sixty Three Naira Ninety One Kobo (N 277,994,063.91) in the month of June 2019 out ofTwo Hundred and Forty Five Million Three Hundred and Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Eight Naira Seventy one Kobo (N245,308,308.71) of the Monthly target. This is quite a remarkable performance because the Command surpassed the revenue generated in June 2018 with N 106,683,365.68.

After the 2019 general election, the Command has been consistent in revenue generation. In March we were able to surpass our monthly target with N 345,672,879.32 which outshine that of March last year 2018 with N 475, 192,799. 89. In April with N 69,046,333.72 whichbeat that of April 2018 with N 175,613,157.93.  In May 2019 we again surpassed our Monthly target with N39, 251,249.17 which is also better than that of May last year with N145, 992,344.14.

MONTH

2019

INCREASE ABOVE TARGET

2018

DIFFERENCE 2019 AND 2018

JAN

210,466,789.18

-34,841,519.53

115,899,471.76

+94,567,317.42

FEB

4,307,586.65

-241,000,722.06

146,523,557.55

-142,215,970.9

MAR

599,981,188.03

+354,672,879.32

124,788,388.14

+475,192,799.89

APRIL

323,354,642.43

+78,046,333.72

147,741,484.50

+175,613,157.93

MAY

293,559,557.88

+48,251,249.17

147,567,213.74

+145,992,344.14

JUNE

277,994,063.91

+32,685,755.2

171,310,968.23

+106,683,095.68

TOTAL

1,709,663,828.08

+237,813,975.82

853,831,083.92

+855,832,744.16

 

I want to reiterate here that the Command is on the threshold of maintaining the tempo by surpassing its monthly target which outcome would transcend on the year’s target.

ANTI-SMUUGLING/ENFORCEMENT

In August 2018, the Command was having only Twelve (12)Serviceable patrol vehicles, immediately I took over, I swung to action with the determination to flush out die-hard smugglers off the Command. With the support of the Management team, led by Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) we were able to increase our patrol vehicles from Twelve (12) to Twenty Three(23).

 

Out of Seventeen (17) vehicles that were unserviceable, Seven (7)were brought back to work. I immediately deployed them for patrol activities which resulted to Forty Eight (48) seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Seventy Eight Million Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Naira (N 78,975,920).

 

Below is the breakdown of seized goods-

·        Forty Two (42) Seizures of Rice totaling about Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Nineteen (2,919) Bags with Duty Paid Value(DPV) of Fifty Four Million Two Hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand Three Hundred Naira (N 54, 279, 300).

·        Twenty Nine (29) Seizures of Used Vehicles with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Twenty Three Million Seven Hundred and Eighty Thousand Three Hundred Naira (N 23, 780, 300).

·        Twenty two (22) Bales of Secondhand Clothing with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Seven Hundred and Ninety two Thousand Naira

(N 792,000)

·        The Command made seizure of other items such as Sugar, Used Tyres, Vegetable Oil, foot wears etc with duty paid value of Two hundred and Eight One thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty Naira (N 281,320,000)

 

ACTIVITIES IN THE MONTH OF JULY

This month, the Command has recorded Three (3) difference seizures of Rice totaling One Hundred and Eighty Nine (189) Bags with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Three Million Two Hundred and Thirteen Thousand Naira N 3,213,000.

A Six (6) tyres truck with REG. NO MNA 691 XV Suspected to be carrying Three Hundred (300) Bags of Rice was intercepted with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Five Million One Hundred Thousand Naira (5,100,000)

Also, a Mitsubishi Canter with REG NO XC 112 BDU suspecting to be conveying One Hundred (100) Bags of Rice with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Million Seven Hundred Naira (1,700,000) was also arrested within this month.

CONCLUSION

I will like to use this opportunity to reiterate the Command’s resolve to rid the Niger/Kwara/Kogi states axis off recalcitrant and unpatriotic Nigerians who engage in smuggling activities. The ban on importation of rice/fairly used vehicles through the border is still in place and the Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command is committed to enforcing this to the later. I remain grateful to Officers and Men of Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command, the current Management under the dynamic leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) for equipping us with the wherewithal needed to make our operations more effective and efficient.

 

Thank you all
Yusuf Abba-Kassim
Customs Area Controller,
Niger/Kwara/Kogi Command, Minna.