Story by Dili Utomi.
The Nigeria Customs Service started in 1861 as an arm of the colonial government after the annexation of Lagos as part of its colonies, it was then simply known as the Customs Department with the simple task of revenue generation for the authorities. The then head of the Department was J.H. Glover, the Harbour Minister and Collector of Customs.
It metamorphosed into the Nigeria Customs Service in 1964 after Independence and has had its responsibilities widened primarily to include the protection of the national economy, the facilitation of trade and of course the generation of revenue.
Apart from the change of nomenclature, the Service has also undergone several changes in the legal frameworks that guides it, culminating in the Customs act of 2023 and these with several other policies of its administrative head, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and his eggheads are repositioning the Service to match its responsibilities with modern tools, technology and methodology.
Cac Oramalugo handing over to the representative of the NDLEA [/captio
These are aggregated to drive the operational efficiency giving high performance standards as are being witnessed in most of its activities nationwide.
A few of these points were noted at the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service led by Dr. Ben Oramalugo who had a press briefing, Wednesday , the 30th.
The CAC while presenting his third quarter score card noted that “In the face of current economic conditions, the Command has intensified its efforts in ensuring that every kobo due to the government is collected in accordance with the law. I am pleased to announce that for the 3 quarter of the year 2024 the Oyo/Osun Area Command successfully generated a total revenue of %23,974,543,014.49 (Twenty-Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Five Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand, and Fourteen Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo). This reflects a 27.5% increase over the sum of ₦17,377,387,591.90 (Seventeen Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Seven Million, Three Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-One Naira, Ninety Kobo) generated in the corresponding period of 2023, underscoring the Command’s commitment to efficient revenue collection through improved compliance, enforcement, and monitoring”.
From January to September 2024, the Command also generated the sum of N56,656,828,685.30 (Fifty-Six Billlon, Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Elight Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Niara, Thirty Kobo), This also reflects a 7.85% increase when compared to the sum of N52,206,458,966.50 (Fifty-Two Billion, Two Hundred and Six Milllon, Four Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six Niara, Fifty Kobo) generated in the corresponding period of January to September 2023.
CAC Oramalugo handing over the fake pharmaceutical products to the NAFDAC Director, Mrs. Ajayi.
Dr. Oramalugo also indicated that the Command has apart from generating revenue also prioritised its anti-smuggling operations in these trying times in order to protect legitimate businesses. For the period August 30th, 2024 to October 29th, 2024, the Command officers successfully intercepted and seized various contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 8755,896,700.00 Seven Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira Only.
These seized items include: Foreign Parboiled Rice 433 (SO0Kg) Bags #41,568,000.00, Second Hand Clothes 61 Bales and 10 Sacks #54,600,000.00, Used Tyres 93 Pieces #8,928,000.00.
Cannabis Sativa 49 Sacks weighing #46,935,000.00 744.9kg – 4 5 Petroleum Motor (25 Litre Kegs) #87 ,009,200.00 Spirit (PMS) (Totaling: 8,850 Litres).
Fake Pharmaceuticals Analgin Injection (46 Cartons) ₦5,796,000.00, Amoxicillin Capsule 500mg (68 Sacks) #431,250,000.00, Buscomac Tablet 10mg (3 Cartons) #1,428,000.00, Juscopan tablets (6 Sacks) #35,700,000.00, Chloramphenicol Tablet Bp 250mg (5 Sacks) ₦25,500,000.00, Ampiclox Capsules 500mg (11 Sacks) #70,125,000.00, Arthromether Tablets (10 Sacks) ₦25,200,000.00, Fulcin Tablets SOOmg (2 Sack) #1,500,000.00 Peritazocine Injection 30mg (13 packets) 357,500.00.
Total DPV of seized as indicated is ₦755,896,700.00 .00
Two separate hand over ceremonies were performed at the occasion. First, the Director, Southwest Region of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs. Roseline Ajayi was on hand to receive the seized pharmaceutical products worth ₦596,856,500.00 from Dr. Oramalugo.
Again, T.J. Agbogunrin, the representative of Commander Oluyinka Job Fadile of the Ibadan Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) also received the seized cannabis sativa worth ₦46,935,000.00.
The CAC of the Oyo/Osun Command, Dr
Oramalugo in an interview after the occasion detailed that he is inspired to fight these economic sabotage as it occasions other nefarious activities like substance abuse because Nigeria has done, is doing and will still continue to do a lot for him as a person and for other citizens in and out of the country.
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