Ogun II customs records 51% revenue growth, uncovers 12 companies dodging tax

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Services (NCS), Ogun II Area Command, Abeokuta, Ogun State said it generated N12,830,493,630.06 revenue from January to June 2024 amounted to a significant improve by 51% compared to N8,505,038,818.30 generated at same period of 2023.

Controller of the command, Comptroller Bisi Alade, disclosed these while speaking with newsmen at a press conference held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, last Thursday.

He revealed that there is a differential of N4,326,454,811.76 higher than what was generated same period of six months last year 2023.

“In addition, our activities in the free trade zones have improved and these brought greater success which is evident in our monthly revenue collections from April to June. In April we raked in N 3,486,961,186.71 in May, we made N2,801,833,739.40, while in June our revenue collection leaped to N3,664,776,499.07,” he said.

Harping on the core mandate of the command which he said remains generation of revenue for the federal government, facilitation of legitimate trade and protection of national economy and security.

Alade went further to reveal that the command under his helmship has uncovered 12 factories allegedly operating in the area over a period of time without paying the prerequisite Excise Duties.

The controller revealed that the 12 tax dogging factories comprising of 11 manufacturing companies and one Bonded Terminal were discovered through the NCS’ deployment of “intelligence and reconnaissance” by its monitoring unit, stressing that the affected factories have been brought under different stages of registration to enable them pay necessary duties to the federal government.

He said, “It is important to stress that the success recorded in our revenue drive in the last three months can be attributed to: Good motivation from the Management of the Service which has boosted the morale of officers and kept them in high spirits at all times.

He went on, “Continuous deployment of intelligence and reconnaissance by our monitoring unit which led to the discovery of some factories which we have now put under excise control. These factories which are now under different stages of registration include: Sygen pharmaceutical limited;Sprout and Kingsberg Nigeria Limited; Adesouthern Nigeria Limited; Abraham & Sarah Beverages Nigeria Limited; Oyinloye Honey Double Crown; Oluyemi Akintan Nigeria Enterprises;Lorna Nigeria Limited; Makindez Multi-business Ventures; Digo Herbal Remedy Limited; Broadway Food & Beverages Limited; Beezun Flavoured Drinks, and Nellyvan Global Limited (Bonded terminal).”

Alade revealed that within the month of his assumption of duty as controller of the command was when the eleven factories and one bonded terminal, were discovered.

These spectacular results would have not been possible without the drive and support of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), leveraging on his principle of consolidation, collaboration and innovation.

Alade therein commended the dedication of officers and men of his command especially Customs Intelligence Unit. Patted traders that are doing well, urged them to do more. While appreciating critical stakeholders for their continuous collaborative efforts and synergy with the Command in carrying out their statutory mandate in the state.