Seme Command Processes N 13b Export Cargoes, Collects N1.1b in January, February

Seme Command Processes N 13b Export Cargoes, Collects N1.1b in January, February

Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has collected N1.1b in January and February 2024 in keeping with its mandate of revenue generation. The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, who disclosed this in a media briefing at the Command, stated that they were able to meet up with the 2024 revenue target of N7.875 billion.

This represents an increase of over 400 percent in collections compared to the target of 2023 and also translates to a monthly collectible revenue of N656.258 million.

In January 2024, the Command collected N643 million, while it collected N517.9 million in February, amounting to N1.160 billion in the first two months of the year.
Under export, Compt. Bomodi noted that the Command has processed 184 Export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96 metric tons and Free On Board (FOB) of N13 billion, while the total amount collected for NESS was N65.337 million and N24.407 million.

On its anti-smuggling activities, Comptroller Bomodi said between January and February 2024, the Seme Command made 168 interventions which resulted in the seizure of 2,193 bags of 50kg (3 trailer load equivalent) foreign parboiled rice, 81,930 liters (3 tankers equivalent), 9 vehicles, 1425 General merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149kg of codeine and two locally made guns, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.8 million.

According to Bomodi, 13 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, six of them were granted administrative bail, three were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action, one was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while three suspects are still in NCS custody.

He highlighted the importance of the Joint Security Meetings held regularly at the Joint Border Post, stating that the meeting provided valuable intelligence and opportunities to exchange ideas on border management and monitoring.
Bomodi noted that collaboration holds the key to success in border management, “which is why we insisted on information sharing among sister agencies. In line with the directive to ensure grains are not exported illegally, the Command made a seizure of a truckload of beans, totaling 400 bags with a DPV of N61.450 million stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors in the border. The item has since been deposited in the Government Warehouse for safekeeping and eventual sale to members of the public.”

Continuing, he said: “In the same vein, the continuous surveillance of the border by our officers and men has resulted in the interceptions of Four Hundred (400x30liters) of PMS equivalent to 12,000 liters with a DPV of ₦8,347 million on Saturday, March 2, 2024 along the creeks. The seized PMS will be auctioned in line with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of seized perishable items as directed by the Customs Service.”

Under anti-smuggling activities, he said in 2023, the command recorded seizures of 513 bags of foreign parboiled rice, premium motor spirit, vehicles, general merchandise, drugs/narcotics and vegetable oil. Others were $6 million fake currency, 15 fake international passports, 10 International driver’s licenses, and 152 live birds and other endangered species with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N1.212 billion.

The Seme Abidjan corridor has been described by certain experts who have variously expressed the need for the exploitation of the potentials inherent in doing business among the over 428 million people within the West African sub-region, which is the largest trade block in Africa and also expressed optimism that the enormous derivable advantages would be fully realized as trade within the Lagos-Abidjan corridor accounts for about 75 percent of all trade within the sub-region.