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2023: Nigeria Exports 41,867 MT Worth N8.2bn Via Seme Border

  • Customs seize 3 live porcupines, 2 fuel tankers, 3805 bags of rice, others

In line with the federal government’s focus on prioritizing exports, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has facilitated over 41,867 metric tons of export worth N8.2billion through the Seme borderpost in 2023.

The Customs Area Controller, Seme Border Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi revealed this while addressing journalists at the borderpost earlier today (Tuesday).

Nigeria Exports 41,867 MT Worth N8.2bn Via Seme Border
The Area Controller, Seme Border Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi handing over Canabis Sativa seizures to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) representative; during a press briefing on Tuesday.

According to the Customs boss, in 2023 the Command facilitated a total of 41,867.88 Metric Tons involving One Thousand, Forty-Eight Trucks of export products, with Free On Board (FOB) value of N8,299,767,340.57 only.

Nigeria Exports 41,867 MT Worth N8.2bn Via Seme Border
Three live porcupines seized by operatives of Seme Customs during attempts to export the endangered species.

“The Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) paid was N41,504, 608.45 only. The surcharge paid for the period under review was Forty Million, Five Hundred and Thirty- one thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Naira (N40,531,580.00) only,” Comptroller Bomodi said.

Meanwhile, he disclosed that between September and October the Command’s operatives intercepted 1,756 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) equivalent to 52,680 liters or about 2 petroleum tankers; 3,805 units of 50kg bags of rice equivalent to 7 trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice.

Other seizures within the 2-month period include; “1,379 of general merchandise goods, 40 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 2 used vehicles, 3 live porcupines and six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.”

Speaking on the Command’s revenue generation, he observed that at the end of October 2023, the Command had collected 3,050,100,912.28; exceeding the allotted 2023 fiscal target of N1,966,000,000 by N1,084,100,912.28, representing 55.1% increase.

The Customs boss also recalled the headline seizures of 168 live parrot birds and a Hawk which are prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which Nigeria is a signatory.

Nigeria Exports 41,867 MT Worth N8.2bn Via Seme Border
Some 25kg jerrycans of seized PMS on display at Seme borderpost, during a press briefing on Tuesday.

While handing over the seized Cannabis Sativa and suspects will be handed over to NDLEA for further investigation, Comptroller Bomodi stressed that the Seme Customs Command has strengthened collaborations with sister security agencies to curb smuggling.

Meanwhile, Bomodi promised to encourage compliant traders and host communities along the corridor bearing in mind that the Joint Border Post (JBP) is still adjusting to the reality of the border reopening after long closure.

He thanked the Comptroller-General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and his management team for the robust support Seme border Command has enjoyed, even as he attributed the successes recorded to strategies adopted by the leadership of the Command and its officers to checkmate revenue loopholes, in partnership with stakeholders.

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