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Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Katsina Area Command of the Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) has said it has generated
over N104.7 million from export and import duties
for the federal government barely three months
after reopening the Nigeria/Niger Republic border
at Jibia, Katsina State.
Briefing journalists in Katsina on its ongoing war
against smuggling, the Command’s Comptroller,
Dalha Wada Chedi, said the whooping sum
generated by the command has been paid into
the federal government’s account.
The NCS, had in April 2022, reopened the
Nigeria/Niger Republic border at Jibia, Jibia Local
Government Area of the state for legitimate
businesses to thrive between the two countries.
Chedi said: “With the reopening of the Jibia border,
the command is expected to discharge all its
statutory obligations which include control of
import and export through the reopened border
by adhering to Customs procedures in collection
of revenue and other regulations.
“Consequently, the total sum of N104, 735, 574.00
was collected and paid into the federal
government account within the period under
review.”
He said the worth of export through the Jibia
border within the period under review for 4,000
metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
and 1,000 metric tonnes of cement is
N998,205,392.04 and N32,292,830.00.
He added that the command also seized N38.5
million worth of contraband between May 1, 2022
to date, adding that it has recorded a decline in
the number of seizures due to the reopening of
the border.
Other factors that led to the decline in the seizures,
according to him, were restrategised operation
procedures on anti-smuggling activities by
frequent patrols, surveillance and intelligence
gathering and synergy among security agencies,
government and stakeholders at border
communities.
He, however, called on the business community in
the state to comply with all the import and export
guidelines for a seamless importation and
exportation through the reopened border.
