Going by the recent administrative and operational upgrade within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which prompted the unbundling and creation of new eight Area Commands across Nigeria, the Federal Government has unbundled the Ogun Area Command of Customs into two, namely, Ogun I and II.
BusinessDay reports that Ogun I Area Command of NCS will have its headquarters at Idi-Iroko in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state and has as Controller with a mandate of regulation and enforcement of all imports, exports and anti-smuggling related activities.
Whereas, Ogun II Area Command will be located in Abeokuta, the state capital, where all the operations that involve enforcement and regulation of the excise (industries under excise control), free trade zone and parcel post-related activities, would be handled by Jack Ajoku as Controller.
Speaking at the Idi-Iroko headquarters of the NCS on Wednesday, Michael Agbara, Controller of Ogun I Area Command, said the decision to unbundle and create additional eight new Area Commands across the country was taken at the NCS Board at its 50th Regular Meeting.
Agbara noted that the unbundling of the State Customs Area Commands into two divisions was undertaken to enhance the Customs administrative and operational efficiency, and boosting revenue through aggressive drive of excise duties, import and export duties, anti-smuggling, and free trade zone operations, among others.
While giving the breakdown of activities and achievements of the old Ogun Area Command in the month of July, Agbara, though the monthly revenue target of the Command was put at N643.5 million, but the Command generated about N1.3 billion as against N1.2 billion generated in the month of June, 2019.
On the anti-smuggling, the Command made 102 seizures, comprising – 7, 848 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each); 23 units of vehicles (seven used vehicles and16 means of conveyance); 32 gallons of vegetable oil (25 litres each); 201 pairs of used tyres; three sacks of used foot wears; 320 bags of sugar (50kg each); four bales and one sack of second-hand clothing; 200 gallons of PMS (Petrol) of 25 litres each, all with the total Duty Paid Value of above N137,950,082.00.
He said, “The seizure of over 7, 848 bags of rice (50kg each) in the month of July, 2019 is indeed a landmark among numerous successes recorded by the Command. This is evidently a patriotic duty by the Service to fully align with one of the cardinal Federal Government policies targeted at boosting Agricultural Development with a view to attaining national food self-sufficiency.”
