Daud Olatunji
The Nigeria Customs Service Area Command in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, reported third-quarter revenue of N36.2 million while seizing smuggled goods valued at over N323 million.
The Area Controller of Kebbi Command, Comptroller Ernest Iheanacho Ojike, revealed these figures in a statement issued on Friday in Birnin-Kebbi made available to PLATFORM TIMES.
According to Ojike, the Command has ramped up efforts to enhance revenue collection and combat smuggling, actively engaging stakeholders and educating trading communities on customs procedures and compliance.
“In all our meetings with trading communities, we emphasized compliance and warned against importing harmful goods that could compromise the health of Nigerians and disrupt the economy,” said Ojike.
These efforts align with the Command’s strategic aim to meet and potentially exceed its annual revenue targets by tightening border control and implementing stricter compliance measures.
Despite challenges such as low import volumes at the official Kamba border post, Ojike noted that Kebbi Customs generated N36,223,554.50 in the third quarter. Looking ahead, the Command anticipates steady revenue growth as it continues to implement strategic measures.
In alignment with the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s policy focus on border efficiency, the Command is also involved in reopening the Tsamiya-Sebgana border, a move aimed at streamlining trade by creating a “one-stop border post” to reduce red tape and facilitate legitimate trade activities.
Ojike highlighted the impactful efforts of the “Whirlwind Team,” a special anti-smuggling task force deployed by the CGC, specifically targeting petroleum product smuggling.
“This team has swiftly curbed the menace of fuel smuggling in the state, reducing product scarcity and preventing adverse impacts on local communities,” Ojike explained, adding that the team has confiscated large volumes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intended for illegal export.
The Customs Command also seized various smuggled goods over the quarter, including: 367 bales of secondhand babies 16,300 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 74 cartons of assorted medicaments, eight bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 180 pieces of donkey skin in nine sacks, 35kg of Oxidized Nitric Acid (2 liters) and a DAF truck and Toyota Corolla used for smuggling.
The seized items carry a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N323,065,567, marking a significant disruption to illegal trade channels in Kebbi State.
The command arrested five suspects in connection with the seizures, granting them administrative bail pending further investigation.
Ojike stressed that the Command remains committed to enforcing the policies of the CGC, which focus on consolidation, innovation, and inter-agency collaboration.
Looking ahead, Okike said the command plans to hand over the seized donkey skins and medicaments to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further regulatory action.
Ojike also acknowledged the essential role played by media, sister agencies, and the public in curtailing smuggling, urging patriotic Nigerians to continue providing valuable intelligence.
Comptroller Ojike however, warned smugglers to desist from illegal activities, reiterating that the Kebbi Customs Command is well-equipped and committed to maintaining vigilance across its jurisdiction.
“Our officers are ready and positioned to intercept any smuggling activity, ensuring that Kebbi State remains free of such nefarious acts,” he declared.
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