Jaiyeoba Recovers N8b, Records 26 Seizures in 3 Weeks

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

Newly appointed Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller A. B Jaiyeoba has recovered a total of Eight Billion, Sixty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira, Four Kobo (N8,069,497,949.04) in 21 days, in addition to recording 26 high profile seizures.

Some of the seized tyres

The Customs Area Controller at his inaugural press briefing at Ibadan yesterday, Thursday said the seizures include One Hundred and One (101) drums of 200litres each and Six Hundred and Nine (609) kegs of 25litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) totaling Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Five litres (35,425 litres).

According to him, the seizure the petroleum product was effected during attempts to smuggle them out of the country, and frowned at the ugly development, describing it as the lowest form of economic sabotage.

“It is difficult to imagine that despite the current fuel scarcity (PMS) in the country, some unpatriotic Nigerians attempted to smuggle these products out of the country”, he said.

Jaiyeoba who assumed office on Thursday 17^th February, 2022 vowed to make the area command uncomfortable for smugglers even as he thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), for providing robust operational and logistics support for the command to be able to carry out its responsibilities without let or hindrances.

He said the command under his watch has leveraged on the capacities provided by the customs leadership to achieve its modest successes in the last three weeks. He further disclosed that a lone suspect was arrested in connection with the failed fuel deal.

The seized drums of fuel

He said the seizures include foreign parboiled rice, used tyres and secondhand clothing, used compressors, used bags and used vehicles which were the means of conveyance of the intercepted items with a duty paid value (DPV) of Thirty-Four Million, Eight Hundred And Fifty-One Thousand Naira (N34,851,000.00) only.

On revenue generation, the Oyo/Osun Customs boss said as at the end of February 2022, the Command has collected the sum of Eight Billion, Sixty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira, Four Kobo (N8,069,497,949.04) only.

Speaking on the seizure of fuel, Jayeiola said, “One Hundred and One (101) drums of 200litres each and Six Hundred and Nine (609) kegs of 25litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) totaling Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Five litres (35,425 litres) in attempts to smuggle them out of the country, which is the highlight of this briefing today.

“It is difficult to imagine that despite the current fuel scarcity (PMS) in the country, some unpatriotic Nigerians attempted to smuggle these products out of the country.”

Warning that the command will be made uninhabitable for smugglers and unpatriotic elements, he said, “We shall not relent in our efforts to fight smuggling to standstill. We are daily improving on our intelligence gathering method and deploying our efforts to ensure the States of Oyo and Osun are uncomfortable for all economic saboteurs.

Some seized contraband shoes

“We therefore use this opportunity to warn those with nefarious activities to stay clear of Oyo/Osun Command as there shall be no safe haven for them.

“May I reiterate that Oyo/Osun Command under our watch would maintain zero tolerance for smuggling bearing in mind its negative implication on the economic growth and development of our great country.”

He said the command enjoys robust synergy with other units of the service as well as other sister agencies, especially on shared intelligence; in addition to the support of community leaders and other civil institutions in the fight against smuggling.

“Permit me to state that the achievements showcased here today were made possible through timely sharing of credible intelligence and effective collaboration/synergy between the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, CGC Strike Force Team, Joint Border Patrol Team and especially the resilience and vigilance of officers and men of Oyo/Osun Command.

“The collaborative efforts of Sister Agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Oyo State Operation Burst and Amotekun Corps are also very much appreciated.

“I cannot close this address without acknowledging the cooperation of the Traditional rulers, Local Government Chairmen, Youth and Community leaders and the good people of Oyo and Osun States who have continued to provide peaceful and enabling environment for our officers and men to carry out their statutory duties.”