Joseph Bakare
The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has announced major improvements in revenue collection and other key areas of accomplishment.
Addressing the media, the Area Controller of the Command, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, said the Command made a collaborative commitment to performing its tasks with excellence while honoring the Nigeria Customs Service’s basic values.
“We worked together to address three primary priorities: increasing revenue collection, safeguarding Nigeria’s borders through effective anti-smuggling operations, and guaranteeing compliance with federal fiscal regulations. These duties helped our beloved country’s economic growth while also preventing the introduction of illegal items into the country, which would have had a negative impact on the general public.” Oramalugo said.
Reporting, the Command’s scorecard for the period January to December 2024, as well as the milestones already reached he said that for the month of January 2025 the Oyo/Osun Area Command, collected the sum of ₦7,804,408,776:88k (Seven billion, Eight hundred and four million, Four hundred and eight thousand, Seven hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Eighty-Eight Kobo).
The sum collected signifies a 10.1% and 14.3% when compared to the sums of ₦7,088,191,138:30k (Seven billion, Eighty-eight million, One hundred and ninety-one thousand, One hundred and thirty-eight naira, thirty kobo) ₦6,824,954,338:96k (Six billion, Eight hundred and Twenty-four million, Nine hundred and fifty-four thousand, Three hundred- and thirty-eight-naira, ninety-six kobo) collected in the year 2023 and 2024 respectively.
He pointed out that the revenue milestone was achieved with the successful implementation of many strategic initiatives aimed at increasing compliance and streamlining our procedures.
The Command was able to reduce delays, boost efficiency, and facilitate trade while collecting proper duties by utilizing technology such as the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) and taking a proactive approach in addressing legitimate traders’ problems.
Another important area of attention for the Oyo/Osun Area Command and the Nigeria Customs Service in general is the ongoing endeavor to combat smuggling within the country.
Through sustained efforts, the Oyo/Osun Command has achieved tremendous progress in countering unlawful activities that endanger our country’s security and impede the growth of our local industry, he added.
Due to the interceptions and seizures of uncustomed commodities valued at ₦5,377,759,260:00k (Five billion, three hundred and seventy-seven million, seven hundred and fifty-nine thousand, two hundred and sixty naira only) in duty-paid value, the command score card for anti-smuggling efforts in 2024 is likewise of massive proportions. In comparison to the duty paid value of ₦451,479,759:00k (Four hundred and fifty-one million, four hundred and seventy-nine thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine naira only) intercepted and confiscated in 2023, the duty paid value for 2024 represents a 1,091.14% increase.
Between December 20th, 2024 to January 31st, 2025, the Command intercepted and seized smuggled goods with a duty paid value ₦202,784,000.00k. (Two hundred and two million, Seven hundred and eighty-four thousand naira only). These items included the following contraband goods which are detrimental to Nigeria’s economy and national security.
Reflecting on previous history, Oramalugo said the Command’s revenue collection in 2024 was exceptional and respectable. In 2024, the command successfully generated ₦82,193,426,334.10k (Eighty-Two billion, One hundred and ninety-three million, Four hundred and twenty-six thousand, Three hundred Thirty-Four-naira, Ten kobo) for the Federal Government. The amount collected is 15.3% higher than the amount collected in fiscal year 2023 ₦71,292,530,398.17k (Seventy-One billion, Two hundred and ninety-two million, Five hundred and thirty thousand, Three hundred- and Ninety-Eight-naira, seventeen kobo). Furthermore, despite the severe economic obstacles encountered, the total revenue received in 2024 is the largest since the inception of the Command.
This achievement in all modesty represents the hard work and dedication of the officers and men under my leadership, as well as our strong collaboration with stakeholders in the business community, in-depth strategic enforcement and improved compliance.
