The Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated 781.7 million revenue in August, an officials said on Thursday.
The command’s spokesman, Ernest Olottah, told journalists in Seme that the revenue was N47 million higher than the N734 million generated in July.
Olottah attributed the increase to higher trading activities in August.
He said that the command recorded 76 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N18 million in August.
According to him, the items seized include rice, vehicles, narcotics, frozen poultry products and general goods.
Olottah said the command did not make any arrest during the period.
He said that the command was likely to generate more revenue in the ember months because of increase in trading activities.
“We are heading toward the end of the year; trading activities are likely to increase, and this might enable us to surpass our monthly target of N1.1 billion,” he said.
He said that the command generated N8.48 billion in 2013, noting that the figure was N4.5 billion lower than the N13 billion envisaged for that year.
Olottah expressed the hope that the command would meet its N13 billion revenue target for 2014.
He urged Nigerians to desist from smuggling because of its adverse effects on the nation’s economy.
“People should shun smuggling and embrace legitimate trade because by so doing, we will be helping the government in its transformation agenda,” he said.
Meanwhile the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the NCS yesterday said it had intercepted 2000 bags of smuggled rice.
The Command’s Controller, Mr Richard Oteri, made the disclosure at Abaja village, in Olorunsogo Council Area of Oyo State when he visited the scene of the interception.
He attributed the success of the operation to high-level intelligence gathering of the command and his men’s dedication to work.
Oteri said that a similar interception of 21 bags of assorted rice was made in August and the command would continue to engage in aggressive patrol activities.
According to him, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi, has directed thorough investigation with a view to prosecuting all those who are found connected to the illegal act.
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