By Omenihu Alfred fibmn
Murtala Muhammed Airport Command Ikeja Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service under Custom’s Area Comptroller Mohammed Sani Yusuf has surpassed its records for the first quarter of 2024 fiscal year by 111.7% compared to what was collected the previous year.
In the first quarter of 2023 the Command collected Twenty-One Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Forty-Four Kobo (N21,362,752,676.44K) while in the corresponding period of 2024, the Command recorded Forty-Five Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-Two Million, Four Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Eight Naira (N45,232,483,528) only. This represents an appreciable increase of Twenty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-One Naira and Fifty-Six Kobo (N23,869,730,851.56K) only indicating 111.7% increase.
According to the efficient Comptroller, the year 2024 is fraught with numerous global challenges and Nigeria is not exempted. Important sectors of the economy are adversely affected due to the unstable exchange rate. However Nigeria Customs Service, at Murtala Muhammed Airport Command remains resolute at ensuring that they collect the much-needed revenue for the Federal Government and also ensure the safety and well-being of the citizenry through curbing smuggling to its barest minimum while facilitating legitimate import and export trades.
Furthermore, Comptroller Mohammed Sani Yusuf noted that the Command recorded an appreciable increase in its anti-smuggling drive which led to the interception of fifty (50) pieces of 9mm live ammunitions which was discovered in a joint examination conducted by the Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The number of first quarter seizures in the command includes One Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Four (1,164kg) sea cucumbers, Fifty Eight Kilograms (58kg) of donkey genitals and seventeen packages (17) of Tramadol. The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned items stood at Five Billion, seven hundred and ninety four million, ninety nine thousand, three hundred and seventy one naira and one hundred and nonpteen kobo only (N5,794,099,371.119k). All the seized items contravened some of the provisions of extant laws as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCS Act) 2023.
In another development, in the area of stakeholder’s engagement, the Command maintained its open-door policy and resolved a lot of issues of common interest with concerned stakeholders. Let me also at this juncture thank our critical Stakeholders, Sister Agencies and the Media for their collaborative efforts and synergy while carrying out our statutory mandate in the state.
Closing his report for the first quarter, ComptrollerMohammed Sani Yusuf appreciated the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashiru Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his Management team for their continued support as well as Officers and Men of the Command. “I urge them to remain focused and steadfast in discharging their assigned responsibilities” he concluded
