Seme Customs collects N995m in October

The Nigeria Customs Service Seme Area Command generated N994, 813,647.06 for the month of October 2016. The Command also made 68 with a Duty Paid Value of N35, 302,957.90.

According to a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, Taupyen Selchang, “The revenue generated in the month of October exceeded the amount generated in the corresponding year with over N60, 884,291.76.

“The challenges that hampered the smooth collection of revenue in the month of October were the malfunctioning of the electrical control cabinet and the electricity generating plant of the scanning machine (which lasted for five days).

“Another bottleneck was the new policy introduced by the Republic of Benin on movement of goods from the ports to their Bonded Terminals before been transferred to the park.

“Also, the prevailing high exchange rate (CFA) and the dilapidated nature of the road diversion from the Republic of Benin has contributed immensely in slowing down economic activities at the border.”

Commenting on the revenue figure, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Command David Dimka disclosed that the command’s determination to succeed all the time and at all costs was paying off.

However, he was quick to point out that there was room for improvement to surpass the amount generated. The Customs Area Controller noted that if the command must dare to be different and remain in total compliance as a change agent, the command must be ready to face criticism and public condemnation among many unpatriotic Nigerians.

He said no amount of criticism, campaign of calumny and unprofessional publication of baseless and unverified news on the pages of newspapers against Seme will stop the Command from working strictly in compliance with the mandate of the Comptroller General of Customs.

He re-stated that anything short of actualizing the mandate of the Service will not see the light of the day. He further stated that he will continue to spur his officers and men to put in their modest contribution to actualize the service mandate.

He cited an instance where members of the Odua People’s Congress who came for the annual worship of their deity almost took advantage of the occasion to smuggle rice into Nigeria, but were resisted by the Enforcement Unit of the Command.

The Comptroller warned that no association or groups of people under any platform or guise are above the law. He told officers not to be intimidated by any unlawful union or gathering that will dare the might of constituted authority at the border.