In July, according to the Kebbi Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, 4,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 525 litres of diesel, and 37 kegs of vegetable oil headed for the borders were stopped.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the command’s headquarters by Ben Oramalugo, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, according to a statement.
According to Oramalugo, a total of 28 seizures were reported throughout the command’s review period.
“The seizures include 138 packs of tramadol 225mg each, 81 cannabis sativa tablets, a 2007 Toyota Camry used as a vehicle, 46 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50 kg each and 40 bags weighing 25 kg each, 88 bales of used clothing, 4,200 litres of PMS and 525 litres of diesel, and 37 kegs of vegetable oil,” he said. The products were seized for N51m in duty paid value.
The coup in the Niger Republic and the ensuing border closure, he said, had a negative impact on the command’s efforts to generate revenue.
Despite the border closure, he said the command generated N99m during the reviewed time, or 113% of its monthly revenue target.
According to him, the Command turned over to agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency cannabis sativa and hard drugs valued at N22 million that were confiscated from smugglers.