Border closure: Customs generates N7bn daily
Nigerian Customs Service currently rakes in between five and seven billion Naira on duties on imported goods into the Federal Government coffers daily, Coordinator, Joint Border Operations Drill, North Central states, Comptroller Mohammed Garba has said.
He added that daily accrual of the service billion before commencement of the joint operation in August last year was about N4.5.
Garba, said that increased revenue was made possible because many illegal border routes were blocked, adding that fight against smuggling and illegal importation was intensified to encourage local agricultural production and development.
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The customs chief said this on Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital during parade of seized goods and items.
Mr. Garba, who is also the area controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Border, revealed that no fewer than 204 illegal migrants were repatriated during the period under review.
Those affected included 99 Nigeriens,100 Beniniose, three Malians, and two Chinese.
The joint border drill consists of security agencies such as the immigration, police, Army, Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Customs and Department of State Service (DSS).
He said that a total number of 10,000 bags of smuggled rice were seized since the operation started.
The customs boss, who said that the border closure was not targeted at anyone, individuals, group of persons or any community, added that it is for the protection of the nation’s economy.
