The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has generated an average of 7 billion Naira daily from joint border drill operations covering Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Niger States.
The Coordinator in the North Central Zone, Comptroller Mohammed Garba, said that the revenue is generated as duties on imported goods in the affected states.
Garba made this known in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while briefing reporters. He said this is a rise from the revenue of N4.5 billion on seized goods and items before the commencement of the joint operations in August 2019.
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He noted that the revenue increase in the zone was made possible as a result of closure of many illegal border routes, which had been blocked to prevent smuggling and illegal importation to encourage local farmers, hinting that the zone had seized over 10,000 bags of imported rice.
Also seized are 52 different types of used vehicles, trucks, trailers, and other vehicles used for conveying contraband goods with the value of duty paid value put at N88, 854,500.
Similarly, 85 kegs of vegetable oil of 25 litres each, 42 sacks of female second hand clothing, and shoes were seized with duty paid value of N912, 000.
Garba noted that 15 Head of States in the neigbouring countries failed to honour the common external tariff pact signed earlier, hence the reason for the partial land border closure.
