In line with the Federal government’s determination to diversify the economy through facilitating the export of non-oil products, the Seme Customs Command has been encouraging business people who are involved in the export of non-oil produce, which has resulted to N35.19Bn (($38, 461M) in the last five months.

Addressing the press on the performance of the Command since five months, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi proudly pointed out that his command facilitated 143, 468 Metric Tonnes of export produce, with FOB value of N35, 199, 971. 097.7 which is equivalent to ($38, 461, 397.39, adding that the NESS value paid is ₦174, 518, 464.82.

On much needed cash generation within the period, the CAC stated that the Command has not left any stone unturned as N2.6Bn was recorded and some seizures worth N800M were made while some suspects are in custody being interrogated.
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Bomodi emphasized that, “the Command has continued to sustain the tempo in the area of revenue generation. In the period under review, we collected a total N 2, 634, 190, 645.53 only. This amount surpasses that of 2023 for the same period by 272%.”
On anti-smuggling, the Controller said the Command recorded 474 interception of various contraband items within the period under review.
Among the items, according to him, were 12,448 Jerrycans x 30 liters each which is equivalent to eight (8) tanker loads, rice: 6,467 Bags of 50kg, which is equivalent to 10 trailer loads, 15 used vehicles, 1, 251parcels of cannabis sativa”
He said that the Command noticed that there has been a marked increase in the illegal importation of cannabis from Ghana, adding that different methods have been used by criminals in their efforts to beat our officers,
But added that all their efforts have been neutralized.
Among others were wild animal: 20 live parrots, honey birds, pelican birds, 303 live tortoises, 149 packages of codeine and 45 pieces of used tyres”.

He also disclosed that 18 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, with 11 of them granted administrative bails, three handed over to NDLEA for further agency action, One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while 4 suspects are still in our custody.
“Also recently arrested is a notorious smuggler whose reign of terror in this area has come to an end and will be made to face the full wrath of the law” , he said.