Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated a revenue of Nineteen Billion Thirty Seven Million, Four Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira and Forty Two Kobo (N19,037,442, 310.42) between January 1 and April 30, 2024.
The Command also handed over 148 pieces of drones, 112 military wares, two bullet proof helmets and three army vests intèrcepted by its operatives at the airport, to Nigeria Army.
Similarly, the Command handed over a sum of One million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand ($250,000.00) counterfeit dollars and five crypto currency machines also intèrcepted at the Lagos airport to the representative of the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the event.
Speaking at the event held at the office of the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Lagos, the Controller, Assistant Comptroller General Osikhena Charles Orbih, said the Command has been able generate 42 per cent of its revenue target for the year 2024 between January 1 and April 30, 2024; which is a 67 per cent increase over what was collected during the same period in the previous year.
In its continue efforts to block revenue leakages the CAC explained that seizures and detentions of some precious stones such as Zinc, Lithium, Copper Stones and Sand were also recorded.
Other items seized and detailed included four drones with duty paid value of Seven million and Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N7,800, 000:00), One wooden giraffe statute and five bullet proof jacket with duty paid value of One Million Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand and Nine hundred and Ninety Eight Naira only ( N1, 259, 998:00)
Handing over the seized drones and military hardwares to the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Mohammed Usman, Orbih explained that some of the drones could stay in the atmosphere for 72 hours while equipped with military weapons..
He said, “based on the directive of the Comptroller General of Customs and in order to foster inter agency cooperation and collaboration, the Nigeria Customs Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command Ikeja Lagos hereby hand over the items to the Nigerian Army..”
On the seized drones, Orbih explained that importation of drones not more than 200 capacity is not prohibited in the country. But importer of any drone above that must provide the End Users Certificate (EUC) issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) before they are released.
In his response, the GOC 81 Division Nigerian Army Major General Mohammed Usman who received the items on behalf of Nigeria Army, expressed his delight on the level of inter agency cooperation and collaboration in the country which did not allow the seized items fall into wrong hands.
He assured that the items will be delivered to the appropriate sections of the military for further analysis and possible deployment.
