NCS Kwara area command generates N6.91bn in 2020 – Area Controller

The Area Controller of Nigeria Custom Services (NCS), Kwara State Command, Hussaini Bello, yesterday, said despite the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, the command was able to hit 86 per cent of its target for the year 2020.

Presenting the scorecard of the command’s activities from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, to reporters in Ilorin, Bello, while describing revenue generation as the core mandate of the NCS, said the command generated N6. 91bn in the year under review as against the sum of N2.4bn declared in 2019.

He equally commended the men and officers of the command for tackling smuggling activities and boosting trade at the boarder and beyond.

Bello said the feat was achieved through the re-jigged efforts of the sectional heads for effective performance and measures put in place to get economic saboteurs apprehended. 

Besides, he disclosed that the command has enjoyed immeasurable collaborations with sisters border security agencies in policing the land borders under his jurisdiction.

“The Command is aiming at higher revenue collection to ensure that this year 2021 would be better than the previous year 2020,” he said.

Bello attributed the inability to meet the stipulated target last year to the pandemic, EndSARS protest and Border Drill Exercise (Partial Border Closure) that was initiated by the Federal Government, which commenced on August 20, 2019, placing temporary embargo on movement of goods and persons through the land borders nationwide.

He stated that, in April 2020, the command could not generate “a single Kobo” as a result of the lockdown.
Bello said: “despite partial border closure, the anti-smuggling operations recorded a total of 84 seizures with the duty paid value (DPV) of N345, 205,100 as against the same period 2019 with 14 seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N42, 628, 700.”