On Wednesday, Comptroller Ngozi Uche of the Nigeria Customs Service’s Ondo/Ekiti Area Command said that the command exported 2,233 containers of cocoa bean from January to August 2021.
Uche made the revelation during a working visit to Akure by the NCS Zone A Zonal Coordinator, ACG Modupe Aremu.
The command, according to Uche, is an offdock area with no harbor, international airport, or borders.
She stated that money was created through interventions such as the appraisal of Demand Notices on vehicles with duty infringement, the collection of duty from parcel post and excise, and the oversight of coco exporting.
“On assumption in office, I made it a duty to pay courtesy visit to all sister agencies in Ondo and Ekiti States.
“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 stated.
Uche added that three infant factories had combined into one and had recently received approval from the Cooperate Affairs Commission, as well as instructions on how to apply to NCS for an excise license.
Comptroller Adamu Abdulkadir of the Oyo/Osun Area Command said the command produced N23 billion between January and 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,” Abdulkadir stated.
Aremu stated in her statement that she was not startled by the information obtained from Ado Ekiti since she trusted the CAC in charge.
Uche stated that, “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.”
Uche said the excise dragnet will be widened in Ogun/Osun, and he encouraged the controller to conduct a census to identify industries that needed to be licensed.
She congratulated Abdulkadir on his revenue of almost N10 billion, saying they had expected nothing less from him given his track record.
“As regards suspects, there is need to ensure that the case files are well documented and compiled for proper prosecution,” she said.