Seme Customs Generates N6bn Revenue In 2023

By Asuquo Nuwak

Seme Customs Generates N6bn Revenue In 2023
…Decorates 34 officers

The Seme Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller Timi Bomodi, has recorded a total sum of N5.946billion for the fiscal year which ended December 31, 2023. The command, according to the report, was given a revenue target of N1.966billion for the fiscal year, which it has surpassed by a whopping 297 per cent.

The command has also decorated a total of 34 officers across all cadres ranging from Deputy Comptrollers to Assistant Superintendent of Customs, who have distinguished themselves in their areas of operation and have been found worthy of promotion by the management of the service.

In his presentation shortly after the official decoration of the 34 officers of the command, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, also disclosed that the new revenue record represents a 322 per cent increase when compared to the revenue figures of N1.49billion collected in the corresponding period of 2022.

Comptroller Timi Bomodi said: “The 2023 revenue collection is the highest collection since 2019. This reinforces our commitment to ensure that the Lagos-Abidjan trade corridor is perceived more as an enabler with huge potential for exponential growth. We will continue to do our very best in ensuring that the command achieves its full potential in trade facilitation without any hindrance”.

According to available statistics, the command has facilitated a total of 222, 442.88metric tonnes of export products involving 6, 253 laden trucks with Free –On-Board (FOB) value of N32.4billion. The statistics further show that during the period under review, the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme NESS realised N162.9million, while N60.4million was generated through the 2.5 per cent export surcharge, using 704 single Goods Declaration SGD forms.

The command has also put up a superlative performance in its anti-smuggling operations, seizing a total of 513 items valued at N1.37billion, which comprises 24 trailer load or 14, 151 50kg bags of foreign rice, 37 tankers or 1.2million litres of premium motor spirit PMS, 39 smuggled vehicles and 8, 278 units of hard drugs and narcotics.

Further breakdown of the seizures include 9, 639 cartons of general merchandise goods, while a total of 37 suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures.

The Customs Area Controller said: “The command also made headlines in its enforcement of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES where we recorded the seizures of 152 live parrot birds and other animals protected under the convention and $6million fake bills, among others”.

In the words of Comptroller Timi Bomodi: “These successes recorded by the command in the preceding year is attributable to the incentives and motivation given to the officers and men of the command by the management of the service. The command will continue to sustain the tempo in the fight against illicit trade within the nooks and crannies of the command”.

He further said: “Given the encouragement and support we have received from the management of the service; we will not only maintain the tempo but will work towards meeting whatever revenue target that will be set for us in the current fiscal year.”

Comptroller Bomodi, also thanked the Comptroller General of the service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for making good all his promises, especially in terms of provision of tools for work, payment of 13th month salary, other incentives, welfare packages, accommodation, promotion, as well as commendation to officers, who have distinguished themselves in their spheres of operation.

He also thanked other sister security agencies operating at the Seme-Krake Joint Border unit for their support and the synergy that exists between them, without which the superlative performance of the command in the outgone year would not have been possible.

He enjoined the promoted officers to see their promotion as a call to duty by reciprocating the good gesture of the management, especially in terms of diligence and dedication to duty.

In conclusion, Deputy Comptroller I.D. Musa Psc+, who responded on behalf of the other officers thanked the management for finding them worthy to be promoted, while assuring that they will put in their best to justify the confidence reposed on them. He further thanked the CAC, Comptroller Bomodi, for providing good leadership and team spirit at the command, which has continued to ginger and motivate the officers and men of the command.