The Area Controller for Nigeria Customs Service (NIS), Oyo/Osun Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Zulkifli has said that intelligence-driven strategy has assisted its command in generating over N6 billion in the first quarter of 2019.
The Customs Area Controller stated this during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.
According to him, the Command under his watch has continued to improve on its intelligence-driven strategy and has carried out series of operations at different locations within the Command’s area of coverage.
Zulkifli added that his command also arrested eight suspected smugglers.
“The suspects were arrested at various locations and have been granted conditional bail, adding that they would be charged to court soon.
He also added that the command has secured the conviction of a smuggler, Bayo Mafo, who has been sentenced by the Federal High Court, Ibadan, to three years imprisonment for impersonating as a customs officer and obtaining money under false pretences.
He stated that the conviction of Bayo Mafo will serve as a warning to others who might want to involve themselves in such illegalities.
“We have collected N13,397,441,364.71 from excise duties in the first quarter of 2019, as against N6,032,964,650.94, generated within the same period in 2018. This shows an increase of 101.4 percent in the revenue collected within the first quarter of last year”.
The customs boss vowed that the officers and men of the command will not relent in their efforts in fighting smuggling, with a view to protecting “our indigenous industries, reviving ailing ones and, at long run, creating wealth and jobs for our unemployed youths.”