Ondo/Ekiti Customs swell revenue, supervises export of 2,233 containers of cocoa bean

…Oyo/Osun Area Command generates N23b from Jan. to Aug.

…FG urged to extend railway line from Apapa Port to Tincan, Ijegun 

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Ondo/Ekiti Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has recorded a remarkable increase in revenue generation recovering N27,919,502 for July and August against N19,618,387 for same months in 2020, an increase of N8,238,115,” she said.

On the other hand, the command disclosed that it exported 2,233 containers of cocoa bean from January to August, 2021.

Controller of the command, Comptroller Uche Ngozi made the disclosure on Wednesday during a working visit of the Zonal Coordinator of NCS, Zone A, ACG Modupe Aremu, in Akure.

The command according to Ngozi is an offdock area, having neither seaport, international airport nor borders.

The revenue so generated from from the area was from interventions through appraisal of Demand Notice (DN) on vehicles with duty infringement, collection of duty from parcel post and excise and supervision of coco exportation she revealed.

Comptroller Ngozi has to say: “On assumption in office, I made it a duty to pay courtesy visit to all sister agencies in Ondo and Ekiti state respectively.

“From July 5 that I assumed office as the controller, the command recorded a remarkable increase in revenue recovery with the sum of N27,919,502 for July and August against N19,618,387 for same months in 2020, an increase of N8,238,115,” she said.

Ngozi noted that three infant factories emerged as one and had just gotten their Cooperate Affairs Commission approval and was advised on how to apply to NCS to enable them obtain their excise license.

In another development at the Oyo/Osun Area Command, Comptroller Adamu Abdulkadir said that the command generated N23 billion from January to August.

“The command generated N10 billion in June, the highest in the command, had 169 seizures and 13 suspects.

“As regards achieving its target, the command enhanced its strategies, set up task force on excise PMS and mining to ensure all loop holes are closed,” he said.

In her response, Aremu pointed out that she was not surprised at what was got from Ado Ekiti because she believed in the capable hand of the CAC in charge.

“I know that you do not have a revenue target but of the interventions from vehicle on the road. The amount realised was quite remarkable and I believe the command can do better as the ember months approaches.

“Shortage of officers is everywhere but with the recruitment done soon, officers will be deployed effectively to commands to boost staff strength,” she said.

At Ogun/Osun, she noted that the excise dragnet would be expanded and urged the controller to do census to get factories that need to be licensed.

She commended Abdulkadir on his revenue of over N10 billion adding that they were not expecting less from him due to his antecedent.

“As regards suspects, there is need to ensure that the case files are well documented and compiled for proper prosecution,” she said.

In the meantime, the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to extend the current railway line in Apapa Port to Tincan and Ijegun ports in Lagos State.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Oghene Egoh (PDP-Lagos) at Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja.

Speaking on the motion, Egoh noted that the Tincan Port was the second busiest port in Nigeria after the Apapa Port.

He said that it has a storage capacity of 28,000 metric tonnes of grain.

“The terminal handles wheat, maize and malt and could take delivery of about 4000 metric tonnes of grain daily, the port facilities could handle ships of about 30,000 tones.

“Currently, Ijegun Port absorbs 25 per cent of the 60 per cent of the nation’s petroleum products and will be able to absorb 50 per cent with greater co-operation from the government,” he said.

He said that the Lagos-Kano railway line under construction was 2700 kilometres in length.

He said that an extension of 15 kilometers railway line from the Apapa Port to Tincan Island Port and Ijegun Port in Satellite town would be of huge economic benefits to the nation.

Egoh stressed that the rail line would enable the government to move more goods to other parts of the country and reduce damage to the roads.

The lawmakers adopted the motion and urged the federal government to extend the rail line from Apapa Port through Tincan Port to Ijegun Port tankers terminal in Satellite town.

They also urged the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation to include the construction of a railway line from Apapa Port to Ijegun Port through Tincan Port in the 2022 budget.

The House mandated the Committees on Legislative Compliance and Land Transport to ensure compliance.