FG’s order on border closure still in force, says Customs

FG’s order on border closure still in force, says Customs

Olaitan Ogundele

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said the Federal Government’s directive on border closure is still in force. While briefing newsmen at the command headquarters in Minna, yesterday, NCS Comptroller, Niger/Kogi Area Command, Busayo Kadejo, warned smugglers and other criminal elements that there would be no sacred cow.

The comptroller explained that the briefing was aimed at showcasing seizures, anti-smuggling activities and revenue collection by the command.

Kadejo, while displaying the seized items, including eight exotic cars, revealed that the vehicles were seized in December 2023.

He stated that already the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the seizure had already been auctioned, due to its inflammatory nature, with approval of the Comptroller General of Customs.

According to him, the cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items in December amounted to N194.78 million.He said the command was also able to recover N12,605,439 principally from Demand Notice.

The Customs boss explained further that the command had made 65 seizures with DPV of N206,301,933 and recovered N77,271,851, principally from Demand Notice.

To achieve the above feat, he noted, the command deployed massive intelligence and applied rules of encouragement; hence it recorded no casualties, pointing out that sincere efforts of brave and gallant officers were commendable, and assured that bold sacrifices would not go unnoticed.

He reiterated that the command would always discover all the illegal routes and ways used in smuggling, make seizures as well as effect arrests to cripple operations of smugglers.

Disclosing that during the operations, seven suspects were arrested and released on administrative bail. 

While appreciating sister security agencies for the synergy with the command, the comptroller appealed to the public to always assist the command with useful and credible information.