KOREDE DAMIFOGO
Just within a month after Comptroller Bishir Abdullahi Balogun took over leadership of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) the unit made seizures of illicit goods worth N1.010billion and generated a revenue of N13.45 from Demand Notices.
According to the command’s Public Relations Officer, R Nche, who disclosed this in a press release, the new Controller of the unit disclosed this information during his first press briefing at the unit’s headquarters in Owerri, which took place on the 17th of April 2025.
Frowning at smugglers, the Controller of the unit stated the damages of smuggling as he described it as economic sabotage to bring in prohibited goods into the country which he said would hurt the nation’s local industries and affect the well-being of individuals.
The seized goods include 725 bales of second-hand used clothing, 2,762 rolls of satin fabric of 60 yards, 2,589 used tyres, 233 sacks of 2kg foreign rice, 181 rolls of wall covering, 102 bottles of 75cl diesel, 80 Jerry cans of 25 litre of PMS (Calabar), 78 Jerry cans of 25 liters crude oil, 32 new tyres, 25 bales of cannabis sativa, 24 bottles of 150cl of diesel, 14 bags of 50kg foreign rice, 3 cacharteredineedwine, 1 sack of used shoes, 1 scannia container body truck Reg No: T 281 A2LA, 1 Mercedes Truck Reg No: NKE 323 XE, 1 Mack Truck Reg No: XB654-BNY 2001, 1 Mack Truck with Reg No: APP 808 XA, 2 X 40 FT empty container, 5 PCanadiancannadian loud.
Comptroller Bishir stated that no matter the intentions of smugglers and their patronizers, the unit will not relent in carrying out its statutory functions, which are backed up with intelligence-driven strategies by the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The Controller of the unit while commending officers/men of the unit during the briefing anchored his successes to focus, diligence, professionalism and the decision to contribute his quota to the national economy, by blocking all revenue leakages, enforcement of trade facilitation and taking charge of the nation’s entry points which is of uttermost importance to the unit.
He added that the unit must work together to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the CGC to succeed.
He also called on traders and stakeholders to be compliant, as our officers are professionally trained to checkmate the activities of non-compliant traders and block likely areas of revenue leakages.
The seized cannabis sativa was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“These timely successes and achievements are a result of the purposeful leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, high level of professionalism, commitment, and teamwork. The unit is also determined to sanitize the zone of any form of un-customs activities and facilitate legitimate trade.
“NCS is committed to the consolidation of successes achieved, collaborative engagement with critical stakeholders, and innovative ideas in its dealings to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in customs operations.
The Controller commended the media for their continuous support and for spreading the gospel. He called on them not to relent, he urged them to continue with the advocacy and campaign against illicit trade within and across the nation’s borders.
“Nigerians should support the service with the necessary information and intelligence that will assist in effectively discharging our statutory functions to protect lives and the nation’s economy to better the lives of Nigerians at large,” the CAC stated.