Customs FOU zone A: Oladeji vows to facilitate only legitimate trade as Ejibunu records N35.9bn seizure
By Seun Ibiyemi
The newly deployed Customs Area Controller (CAC), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Compt. Kola Oladeji, over the weekend, said he will facilitate legitimate trade as helmsman of the unit.
He disclosed this immediately after taking over from Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, as the CAC of the unit.
But, the outgone controller, Compt. Ejibunu, said N35.9billion contraband and 386 suspects were arrested between September 10th, 2021 to 19th April, 2024.
According to him, the unit has the mandate of revenue generation, anti-smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade.
“We have three mandates which are, anti -smuggling, revenue generation and facilitation of legitimate trade. We must pursue it and I must say that we are not here to facilitate illegal trade but genuine and legitimate trade,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Compt. Ejibunu recounted the strides made by the unit in combating smuggling and enhancing revenue collection, while also reflecting on the challenges and successes of his tenure.
Ejibunu stated that under his leadership, the unit recorded 3,189 seizures with a duty-paid value amounting to N35.9 billion and arrested 386 suspects involved in smuggling activities.
He highlighted major seizures during his tenure to include 222,285 bags of foreign parboiled rice, over 1.1 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and significant quantities of prohibited substances such as Indian hemp and tramadol.
He added that the unit also made strides in trade facilitation, providing escorts for goods on fast tracks and recovering over N2.25 billion through meticulous documentation and demand notices.
Ejibunu further emphasised the unit’s collaborative efforts with community leaders to reduce attacks on officers, a measure that has seen a reduction in violent confrontations.
He acknowledged the sacrifices made by officers, with eight sustaining injuries and five losing their lives in the line of duty during his tenure.
Ejibunu also disclosed that the Unit recovered the sum
