Customs rake in N346.1bn from auction of 806 seized vehicles

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) raked in N346.1 billion from the sale of 806 vehicles seized by it in the first 11 months of 2018.

The vehicles were sold through e-auction to 753 Nigerians. This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Joseph Attah at an end of the year breakfast meeting with journalists.

The NCS spokesman also disclosed that the service seized 238,094 (50kg) bags of rice across Nigeria from January to November, aside from ammunition and dangerous drugs, which were all disposed off in accordance with the law.

Also, 424,391(50kg) bags of rice worth N4.05 billion were distributed to Internally Displaced Persons’ camps along with other perishable items, adding that the Service generated total revenue of N1.1tn during the period, surpassing the 2017 revenue figure by N63bn.

According to Attah, the revenue generation is a clear testimony to the fact that the ongoing reforms of the NCS were impacting positively on productivity.

“The implementation of the presidential mandate of Restructure, Reforms and Raise revenue by the present management of the NCS has greatly repositioned the Service for the better.

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“What is challenging but being gradually achieved is the reform of the human person; the need for attitudinal change on the part of operatives and stakeholders.

“Today in the Service, there is an increasing disposition to place national interest above self. There are many cases of officers and men of the Customs resisting attempt to be compromised”, Attah said.

He however evealed that during the period, suppression of smuggling was the most challenging aspect of the NCS’ functions.

He said: “Regrettably, many people still see smuggling as business, not crime. Violent crimes are perpetrated with dangerous items, such as arms and drugs, smuggled into the country.

“As we strive to fight smuggling, we are often confronted with the following challenges: porous borders and non-cooperative attitude of some border dwellers.

“Others are the willingness of some Nigerians to help the smugglers to mob Customs operatives, lack of proper implementation of the ECOWAS protocol on transit by our neighbours and use of motorcycles and animals to smuggle goods through difficult terrains.”

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