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By Taiwo Oluwadare
The Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigerian Customs Service said on Thursday that it generated the sum of N17.6bn in 2017.
The new Controller of the Area Command, Comptroller Christopher Odibo disclosed this at a press briefing at the Area Command Headquarters in Ibadan. He said the amount generated in 2017 represents 85.3 per cent of the target.
He also said that a total of 115 seizures with Duty Paid Value of N215.6 million was made.
Odibo who took control of the command on January 17, 2018 explained that this year, the command hopes to surpass the 2017 figures.
He however stressed that smuggling was on the high as reflected in the seizures already recorded.
He said the total Duty Paid Value of items seized during the period under review is N77.8 million. He said the items include 375 (50kg) bags of rice, two trucks of 60 (25 litres) kegs of Vegetable oil, 43 sacks of used shoes, six Tokunbo cars and 600 bags of fertilizers.
He regretted that despite the massive campaigns agsinst smuggling, the economic crime was still high.
“The Nigeria Customs Service zero tolerance for smuggling is unalterable and the service will do everything in its capacity to fight it”, the Comptroller vowed.
He commended the dedication of officers of the Command and cooperation of other units such as Headquarters Compliance Team, Federal Operations Unit and Custom Intelligence Unit in actualization of the achievements.
He added that the Command under his watch will continue to deal decisively with the economic saboteurs and work for the security and wellbeing of the people of Nigeria.