The Ogun Area 1 command of the Nigeria Customs Service said it generated a total revenue of N37.8 million from direct auction of seized petroleum products in the first quarter of 2020.
Controller of the Command, Comptroller Micheal Agbara who disclosed this while presenting the command score card at Idiroko, Ogun State last weekend said the figure showed tremendous increase by far margins in the numbers and Duty Paid Value of seizures in the first quarter of the year 2020 when compared to the first quarter of 2019.
According to him, the command recorded 607 seizures in first quarter of 2020 as against 226 recorded in the same period of 2019.
“It will interest you to know that within the period of 1st January to 31st March, we have generated a total of revenue of N37,878, 000 from direct auction of seized 293,015litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 625 litres of diesel and 19 jerricans of kerosene (25kg each).
“All the aforementioned seizures of petroleum products were meant for illegal exportation in defiance to extant policies of the federal government. It is important to note that all items imported into Nigeria for home use are not permitted to be exported,” he said.
Agbara said in the spirit of interagency cooperation, the command also intercepted 176 sacks, 1,790 parcels, 80 compressed coconut packs and four wraps of Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp) at different locations along the border areas in Ogun State.
He added, “Furthermore, the command Special Taskforce intercepted nine vehicles (seven SUV Nissan Pathfinder and two Mazda) fully loaded with smuggled parboiled rice. It is important to bring to the notice of the public that during the lockdown, some daredevil smugglers ingeniously explored the difficult terrain with SUV vehicles to convey smuggled items into the country.
“The proactive activities of officers and men of the command led to remarkable seizures of such categories of vehicles conveying smuggled items. As a responsive and responsible Service, we remain resolute and focused in making sure that economic saboteurs are bought to their knees.
“The Command wishes to commend the synergy that existing between its personnel and officers of Operation Ex-Swift Response, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, CGC Strike Force, sister agencies and other stakeholders.”