The Seme Area Command Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it collected N1.072 billion in the month of February 2016.
Public Relations Officer of the command, Selechang Taupyen in a statement sent to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY said the amount was unprecedented in history of the command.
He said the revenue collected for the month exceeded N899 million collected within the same period in 2015, representing N172. 6 million excess collection.
He said the command also made 55 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N15.6 million while six suspects were also arrested in the review period.
He said huge revenue collection was despite the prevailing high exchange rate, the strike action by the port authority and Customs in the Republic of Benin, protest on the implementation process of unifying the ex-factory price nationally and the uncompromising stand of the command to remain resolute in adhering strictly to the service guidelines and procedures.
Taupyen said, “The Customs Area Controller is not resting on his oars as he briefed his management team to intensify the effort of every unit toward actualizing same in the month of March 2016. According to the Comptroller, it is easy to attain success, but not easy to maintain success therefore all hands must be on deck to maintain and exceed the current record.
“The Customs Area Controller attributed this feat to the commitment of the management team, the critical stakeholders and the host community that were ready to partner with him as change agents in transforming the command.
“For the one month period he spent in Seme command, the Comptroller has demonstrated some sterling leadership qualities.
“Dimka recalled that in his inaugural speech, he made mention that Seme will never remain the same again, today we can witness positive attitudinal change among officers, restructuring the international route to meet the ECOWAS protocols in line with the international best practices, discipline being enforced, legitimate trade is facilitated, our National security which is pivotal to our socio-economic survival is being strengthened by our diligence in scanning goods imported and above all the revenue profile is unequal to none in the annals of history since the inception of the command.”
He urged the business community to make use of the Owode outstation in clearing their goods through the Passengers Baggage Examinations System (PEBES).
He said for the command to work strictly in compliance to the service’s stipulated guidelines and procedures, approved outstations along the international border with the needed facilities had to be resuscitated to work in line with the global best practices.
He urged all businessmen that use the Owode route and the business community to take advantage of the gesture and desist from perpetrating trans-border crimes like smuggling and other ills associated with a border town. He re-iterated that he is in Seme to discourage illegal transactions, encourage illegitimate trade and generate maximum revenue to the Federal government.
“The public is hereby informed that goods that are properly documented, assessed, valued and duty paid, the release of such goods will be effected at the outstation. Some of these goods includes; imported-rice, fairly used vehicles, coconuts and sport wares .However, it is important to note that goods that fall under PAAR cannot be cleared through Owode outstation,” he said.
He said the command has also resuscitated the Automated System of Customs Data (ASYCUDA) that has not been in operation for a long period before now.
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