Seme Customs Generates N5.9b Revenue, Overshoots 2023 Target With 291 Percent Addition
... Makes N1.3b Worth of Seizures
The Seme Border Command of Nigeria Customs Service has made an unprecedented revenue collection of N5,946,174,156.62 for 2023, thereby over shooting it’s it’s N1.9b target by two hundred percent.
Customs Area Controller of the Command,Comptroller Timi Bomodi who disclosed the collection at a press conference on Wednesday,said the command’s 2023 revenue is N4,536,675,206.54 higher than N1,409,498,950.08 that was collected in 2022 which is an increase of 322 percent
According to Bomodi, the 2023 revenue was the highest collection since 2019 which underscores the command’s commitment to ensure that the Lagos – Abidjan corridor is perceived more as a trade enabler with huge potentials for national and regional economic growth
Comptroller Bomodi said the command made seizures worth over N1.3b in its anti smuggling operations from 513 interceptions comprising of rice, Premium Motor Spirit, cars, prohibited drugs, wild life and other items . He added that 37 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures last year.
On export through the Seme Border area, Bomodi said the Command facilitated a total of 222.442.88 Metric tons involving 6, 253 trucks of export produce, with Free On Board (FOB) value of N32,448,564,533.1
He said “We will continue to do our best at ensuring that the Command achieves its full potential of trade facilitation without hindrance.
“under export, the Command facilitated a total of 222.442.88 Metric tons involving 6, 253 trucks of export produce, with Free On Board (FOB) value of N32,448,564,533.1
The Nigeria export Supervision Scheme (NESS) realized during the period under review was N162,852,254.56 only.
“The 2.5% surcharge paid was Sixty Million, Four Hundred and Twenty – one Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty – one Naira (N60, 421,421.00) Only, and 704 SGDs were utilized.
“In the area of anti- smuggling operations, the Command made a total of 513 interceptions valued at N1, 374,245,832 from the following items:
i.Rice: 14,181 50kg Bags which is equivalent to 24 trailers.
ii.PMS: 1,220,130 liters which is equivalent to 37 tankers load.
iii.Smuggled Vehicles: 39.
iv.Drugs and Narcotics: 8,278.
v.General Merchandise: 9,639.
vi.Suspects: 37 suspects were arrested in connection with different seizures, during the period under review.
“In addition to the above seizures the command equally made headlines in its enforcement of Convention On International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) where we recorded seizures of 152 live Parrots Birds and other animals protected under the convention, and 6,000,000 fake dollars bills among others.
“The successes recorded by the Command in the preceding year could be attributed to the incentives and motivation given to the officers and Men of the command by the Management of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Command will continue to sustain tempo in the fight against all illicit trade within the nooks and crannies of the command.
Given the encouragement and support this Command has received from the Comptroller General of Customs and the entire Management of the Service, we will not only maintain the tempo but work towards meeting whatever target that will be set for us in the current year” he said
