Seme Customs Revenue Target 2023 Exceeds By N122m As Nnadi Hands Over To Bomodi
By Chinonye Anyatonwu
The outgoing Area Controller, Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) , Comptroller Dera Nnadi has revealed that the commands revenue target for 2023 exceeds by N122million as it has collected N2,088,578,048.03k in less than 9 months.
Compt. Nnadi stated this during his valedictory speech while handing over leadership of the Command to the new controller, Comptoller Timi Bomodi.
He said the command on Friday 15th September 2023, collected N2,088,578,048.03 only, surpassing the N1,966,000,000 allotted target for the year 2023 by N122,578,048.03 only, which he said it represent 6.23% increase. In the corresponding period under review for year 2022, the revenue was N885,543,098.11 only.
In the area of anti-smuggling operations, he observed that there were headline seizures such as; fake six million US dollars equivalent to N2.7billion; 9500 units of 50kg bags of rice equivalent to sixteen (16) trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value of N312,242,064.93k; 15,094 x 30 liters Jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit equivalent to 455,850 liters or 15 petroleum tankers with a Duty Paid Value of N738,276,461k; 15,389 units of General Merchandise Goods.
Hard Drugs and Narcotics seizures included; 594 parcels of Cannabis Sativa; 4,900 Tablets 225mg of Tramadol Tamol-X; 3,600 Tablets 225mg Tramadol Royal 225; 157 Tablets of Heineken Ecstacy; and 864 Packs of Cigarette.
Compt Nnadi thanked his leadership team, officers, host communities and other stakeholders for the robust collaborations which led to the notable accomplishments at the border even as he solicited the same support for his successor.
In his speech, the new Customs Area Controller, Seme Border, Comptroller Bomodi announced that he would run an all-inclusive administration and be open to views and contributions from all stakeholders.
According to him, Comptroller Bomadi, said that he would work out a way that would not only be effective but efficient in the administration of trade along the border corridor.
In his words “I want to assure the teeming public that it is not going to be business as usual.
“Whatever challenges you have had prior to this time, we are going to go through them and fashion out solutions to them.
“Whatever we think will benefit us, we are going to listen to them and begin to fine-tune our process to accommodate their own needs,” he said.
While promising to continue to engage stakeholders and community leaders, to have seamless transactions around Seme- Krake border corridor.
He stressed that facilitation of legitimate trade will be the Command’s thrust under his leadership, adding that this will naturally enhance revenue generation and curb smuggling.
“The border community dwellers are critical stakeholders from the Obas, chiefs and ordinary citizens and we will ensure that the needs of everyone will be met,” the new Seme CAC ggassured.
On the multiplicity of checkpoints on the border route, Bomodi reiterated that Customs administration of Nigeria and Benin recently met to chart a roadmap to make trade facilitation with the issue of multiple checkpoints highlighted at the strategic meeting.
He explained that both countries have committed to attaining seamless operations by aligning fiscal policies and are contemplating creating windows for respective Customs operatives to extend their activities to each other’s ports and borders.
Bomodi praised his predecessor for the Command’s revenue feat, even as he encouraged him to continue his great results at the nation’s second busiest seaport, Tin Can Island Port.
