The Nigerian Customs Service has disclosed that the command generated N8.48 billion from the famous Seme border in 2013. Disclosing this at a news conference at the Seme border town, near Badagry, Area Comptroller, of the Command Mr Willy Egbudin, said though the amount was bellow their target for the year, the command made 1,102 seizures with Duty Paid Value of N548.3m during the period, which was an improvement on the seizures made the previous year.
“The total revenue collected in 2013 was N8,482,231,289.81 billion, which represents about 65 per cent of the annual target. We will definitely improve on our revenue target this year because we have been brainstorming to identify and block all perceived sources of revenue leakage. We are also discussing with our Beninoise counterparts to address the problem of appropriate transit of imported vehicles from Republic of Benin to Nigeria.”
“In 2012, 480 seizures were made with a Duty Paid Value of N227,035,726.00. This figure shows that there is a significant improvement and we shall do more this year, “he said. He also disclosed that 29 suspects arrested within the period were at various stages of investigation and prosecution. He said goods seized included vehicles, textiles, rice, vegetable oil, second hand clothes, shoes, bags and artefacts.
