At about 11:30am on Thursday, 06 May 2021, Comptroller Adamu Abdulkadir, the Customs Area Controller of Oyo/Osun Area Command held a press conference at the parade ground of the command headquarters in Ibadan, to showcase the achievements of the command between the months of February and April, 2021. Comptroller Abdulkadir, said that as soon as he assumed office as the Area Controller, he inaugurated what he codenamed the “Operation Fish Out” team which is essentially meant to further enhance the command’s anti-smuggling capabilities, by taking the battle to the smugglers den through tactical raids and interceptions of smuggled goods being sneaked through the border area of the command.
Abdulkadir said that following the footsteps of the successes recorded so far by the activities of the “operation fish out” team, he also recently inaugurated another team codenamed the “Excise Task Force” to manage the Excise Factories and widen the Excise dragnet to include factories that have qualified to be enlisted under the Customs and Excise Control. According to the Comptroller Abdulkadir this has further improved the performance and achievements of the Command in the areas of Revenue and Enforcement procedures.
Comptroller Abdulkadir used the opportunity to once again plead for the cooperation Nigerians, reiterating the fact that the Nigeria Customs Service in implementing the fiscal policies of the Federal government, actually do it on behalf of the people, to help improve the Economic and Social wellbeing of the people.
Reminding the press that Oyo and Osun States Borders remain closed to any form of inward or outward trade,
Abdulkadir, said that the command has had to in recent times increase its surveillance and patrols of the border area in adherence to the directives of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ibrahim Hameed Ali (Rtd.) for all commands, particularly those at the Nigerian borders to become more conscientious in the discharge of their duties and help forestall the deplorable state of security in Nigeria.
Abdulkadir said that to further ensure the effectiveness of these strategies that they have deployed to man the border areas, he and his management staff recently visited sister agencies, outstations/outposts and patrol bases as well as the Traditional Rulers of several towns and cities including Aiyegun, Igbojaiye (Ilero), Eruwa, Igbeti, Saki, Kisi, Iseyin, Ipapo, Okaka, Ago-Are, Oshogbo, to mention but a few, to sensitize and seek the cooperation of all stakeholders in the security architecture of both states.
He said that the command generated; ₦15,890,489,479.26 (Fifteen Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety Million, Four Hundred and Eighty-Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Nine Naira, Twenty-Six Kobo), between February to April 2021. The figure is said to be the cumulative sum of import duty from bonded terminals, excise duty from factories under the excise net, auction fees and all other ancillary charges into both federation and non-federation accounts.
In conclusion Comptroller Abdulkadir, thanked all the officers and men of Oyo/Osun Area Command for their sacrifice and show of gallantry, not minding all the dangers they face almost on a daily basis in the discharge of their duties. He also appreciated the collaboration of the Customs Intelligence Unit, Border Drill, Strike Force, Federal Operations Unit and other sister agencies in the area command. He thanked the Press for their steadfastness and professionalism, and also praised the effort of traditional rulers, community leaders, stakeholders and the good people of Oyo and Osun states in identifying with and providing an enabling environment for the officers to function properly. He then poured encomium on His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo state, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde for his magnanimity and support in the donation of 2 units of JAC LHD 4×4 Pick-up vans to enhance the command’s operations in keeping the borders safe.