The spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Maiwada, has said the service has collected N277.5 billion on import duties in August.

Mr Maiwada made the disclosure during the monthly news conference organised by the Strategic Communication Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC) and hosted by the NCS on Thursday in Abuja.

The spokesperson said that the service also collected N15.8 billion in excise duties, demonstrating its commitment to maximising revenue generation.

He stated that as part of the service’s efforts to suppress smuggling to the barest minimum, it recorded 83 seizures across various commands.

“The NCS recorded 83 seizures across various commands, including 170,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and 3,083 bags of foreign rice.

“The seizure also includes 1,014 parcels of cannabis sativa, 23 vehicles, and other contraband, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦975,066,791.65.

“The NCS also intensified its “Operation Whirlwind” (OPWW) to combat the smuggling of petroleum products, especially in border states.

“The operation over the months has led to the interception of seven PMS trucks, the sealing of 12 retail outlets, and the seizure of 466,000 litres of PMS and 23 vehicles,” he said.

According to him, investigations have led to the prosecution of seven suspects, while three marketers have been fined by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and sealed filling stations have been transferred for further action.

Speaking at the briefing, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that backdating fireman licenses to circumvent the ban on fire arms by the force remains fraudulent.

Mr Adejobi said the ban on the use of arms and ammunition in Nigeria was still in place and urged the public not to be deceived by arms dealers who say they can backdate licenses.

“Don’t be deceived because there are certain individuals who would go and backdate the license and give it to you; they must have extorted you to even issue the license to you; it’s still fake.

“Don’t allow anybody to lead you in committing a criminal offence in the issue of arms,” he warned.

According to the spokesperson, the force will be very aggressive in going after the possession of illegal firearms across the country.

He said that the force has arrested 97 members of the proscribed Shiite group following their face-off with police, where two of its personnel were killed.

He warned that attacking the police or any other security operatives while discharging their constitutional duties would not be tolerated.

(NAN)