Seme Customs rakes in N841m

Debunk misconception about partial re-opening

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

Leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme Area Command, said it raked in a total sum of eight hundred and forty one million, eighteen thousand, three hundred and thirty three naira, eighty six kobo, N841, 018, 333. 86, from seizures and recovery receipts, between January and May 2021.

Jibo handing over seized cannabis sativa to officials of NDLEA

While the sum of four hundred and thirty one million, one hundred and sixty thousand, three hundred naira seventy two kobo (N431, 160,300.72), only was realized as revenue; a receipt of four hundred and nine million, eight hundred and fifty seven thousand, five hundred and thirty three naira, fourteen kobo, (N409, 857,533.14), as Duty Paid Value, DPV on seizures made within the period under review.

This is even as the command dispelled rumour regarding its current operational status, noting that the command resumed full swing operations since January 2021, contrary to a recent misleading report. According to a statement by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Jibo, Seme Border Command was among the four border commands re-opened by the Federal Government of Nigeria in December, 2020, following border closure by middle of 2020.

The Command also said it processed and captured a total of 713 declarations, which comprised of 1059 trucks of ETLS goods, 2,487 exports, and 179 baggage within the period under review.

The statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, ASC1 HUSSAINI ABDULLAHI and made available to our reporter, reads in part:

“The attention of Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Service has been drawn to a misleading narrative in some quarters of the public that the Seme-Krake border has not been fully reopened, thereby limiting a seamless inflow and outflow of legitimate goods.

“It is pertinent to state that since the re-opening of some land borders by the Federal Government of Nigeria in December, 2020 with Seme Border Command being among the four borders re-opened, its operations have since been sustained on a full scale.”

Jibo therefore urged the general public, especially those engaged in trans-border trade along the Seme. Lagos-Abidjan Corridor to disregard such rumour and go about their businesses in a legitimate manner and without fear.

He said despite some initial post re-opening hitches, the command deployed the required strategies to reconnect with essential trade tools and operational dynamics, and has since settled down to business.

He said, “To this end, the Command is calling on the general public to disregard such false information as it was just an imagination of the perpetrators, mischievously aimed at casting doubt in the mind of Nigerians that are engaging with their legitimate businesses at the border.

“Although some initial hitches were encountered by our Nigerian importers concerning high, charges of fees and levies imposed on the Nigeria bound goods before entry.”

The customs area controller said the customs command and its host communities are constant collaboration and synergy to ensure free flow of business and trade facilitation.

“On the other hand, the Command made pragmatic moves towards cementing a synergy and cooperation with the host community and other security agencies including the Republic of Benin Security agencies operating at the joint border post.”