Katsina Customs rakes in over 1bn despite insecurity, border closure
By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
Despite the challenges of banditry and border closure with the neighbouring Niger Republic, the Katsina State Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has generated the sum of over N1.132 billion in 2023 fiscal year.
The Command’s Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Umar, disclosed this at the weekend while decorating 30 newly promoted Officers of the Command at the Command’s Headquarters in Katsina.
He stated that N1,132,831,484.75 revenue generated within the period under review was a shortfall from the 2023 revenue target of N1,304,548,912.93 given to the Command. “This figure represents about 87.8 per cent of the revenue target issued. It however indicates an improvement in revenue by N299,110,632.35 from N832,946,852.40 revenue generated in the preceding year 2022” despite the border closure.
He stated that the Command ensured compliance with the border closure directive by strictly adhering and enforcing the principles guiding the border closure.
According to him “the command during the period under review, intercepted 369 contrabands, including used vehicles, tyres, second-hand clothing, vegetable oil, and foreign parboiled rice, among others, with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N553,339,240.00 in its ongoing anti-smuggling operations.”
He added that the Command under his watch has made significant progress in fostering synergy with other security agencies in the State for intelligence gathering and improved operations within and outside the border corridors.
Umar noted that the Command has a cordial working relationship with the State Government, traditional institutions, religious leaders, border communities, and other stakeholders in the trade supply chain and would continue to facilitate trade without compromising economic and national security.
“We could not have achieved this feat without the support of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi MFR, his Management Team, Officers and Men of the Command, and other Units of the Service.”
The Thirty (30) Officers decorated in the recently released promotion include, One Comptroller of Customs, Three Chief Superintendents of Customs, Three Superintendents of Customs, Nine Deputy Superintendents of Customs, Ten Assistant Superintendents of Customs l, and Four Assistant Superintendents of Customs ll.
