Abiola Kolawole, Ibadan
Oyo and Osun area command of the Nigerian Customs Service Abdulahi Argungu has said that the command would continue to intensify efforts at checking smuggling and raising government revenue.
Mr Abdulahi Argungu stated this today at a press briefing held at the Command headquarters in Ibadan.
He said the command has intercepted three thousand and ten bags of foreign parboiled rice.
The Customs boss put the total value of seizures at N113.8million naira.
According to the Customs boss, most of the contraband goods were conveyed in commercial buses and cars meant for transportation of people and goods.
Some of the contrabands seuzed included 600 bags of vegetable oil, indian hemp, twenty five bales of second hand clothing and 33 means of conveyance.
Mr Argungu noted that the revenue generated this year is now put at 21.9 billion naira which has surpassed that of last year which was 17.6 billion naira.
Mr Argungu disclosed that no fwfewer than ten persons has been arrested in connection with the smuggled items.
While speaking of what becomes of the good that Zonal commandseized, Mr Argungu noted that the food items will be donated to the Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps (IDPs).
He said the achievements of the command were made possible due to the continued encouragement by the Comptroller General of customs who always motivate and support the officers.
He enjoined the Nigerians to engage in legitimate business and should not entertain any fear as the Nigerian Customs is only concerned about enforcing customs and Excise laws.
Argungu said, “I enjoin patriotic citizens who engage in legitimate business not to entertain any fear for the NCS is only concerned about bringing those who flout extant Customs and Excise law and regulations to book and enable those who engage in legitimate business to enjoy trade facilitation”, Argungu said.
