By Stephen Ubanna
Acting Comptroller Frank Oyeka, Area Controller, Tincan Island Command appears to have taking over from Compt. Dera Nnadi, now acting Assistant Comptroller General, Finance and Administration, Customs Headquarters, at a time the Leadership of the Nigeria Customs service, NCS, has announced implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fiscal incentives enhancing Nigerian’s investment climate and increasing domestic gas utilization , an indications means that the Area Controllers at the nation’s seaports will have much job to do at as the Interventionist are giving the smugglers a battle of their life.
From Adamawa/Taraba Command, Sokoto/Zamfara, Ogun I, Idirokoko to Oyo/Oyo, Command, the story is the same: giving the smugglers the bitter pie to eat to force them to disengage from sabotaging the nation’s economy.
In implementing the fiscal incentives, aimed at increasing the country’s gas utilization, Abdullahi Maiwada, a Chief Superintendent of Customs spokesperson had alluded to the 2023, Customs and Excise Tarif Act, section, that has to do with machinery, equipment and spareparts imported for gas utilization subject ‘’to a zero percent duty rate’’.
Giving an insider information, he noted that this exemption encompasses all equipment related to Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, imported into Nigeria.
He did not stop there. He was said to have also revealed that that the following other gas related items like all processed gas, CNG, , imported LPG, CNG, equipment components, conversion and installation services, LPG equipment components, conversion and installation sevices and all other equipment and infrastructure that are related to the expansion of CNG, LPG and the Presidential CNG , initiative, including the Conversion kits will also attract zero -rated Value AddedTax, VAT.
The Customs spokesperson may have sent a message to all the importers seeking to benefit from the Federal Government incentives to obtain an ‘’Import Duty Exemption Certificate, IDEC, from the Federal ministry of Finance, under the close watch of Wale Edun and a letter of support from the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy.
CSC, Maiwada, had confirmed that the importation of LPG, under HS Codes 711.12.00.00, 2711.13.00.00 and 2711.19.00.00, had been exempted from import duty and VAT, which should gladden the heart of Nigerians. This may have informed why he had said that all Debit Note, DN, that had been issued to Petroleum Marketers who had imported the LPN, items using these Codes, believed to have contravened the government policy from August 6, 2024 and now , will be withdrawn by the NCS, Authorities, in line with p the previous approval that was said to have been given for such importation.
The Customs Chief Superintendent may have spoken the mind of the Comptroller General, when he stated that the measures are taken by the Nigerian Government ‘’to ameliorate the cost of living, bolster energy security, and accelerate the country’s transition to clear energy sources.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the NCS, under the Leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and who an insider had said is committed to the effective implementation of the government new fiscal policies , had urged stakeholders to ensure strict and prompt compliance to avoid running into trouble with his officers at the ports and the Land border Areas. At the last end of year party organized by the Apapa Command, which has Compt. Babatunde Olomu, as the Area Controller, Caroline Niagwan, a Deputy Comptroller General , DCG, of Customs, Trade and Tariff , T&T, had assured genuine traders that they have no cause to worry in their business, noting that whatever step the service takes to main sanity at the ports and the country’s Land border areas is only targeted at the non-Compliant traders.

While the Nigerian Government has moved to boost the country’s energy security, Compt. Oramalugo, the Area Controller of the Oyo/ Osun, had said that the Command will continue to give smugglers a cause to worry until they turn a new leaf of engaging in genuine trade.
Given the spectacular Contraband seizures that had been made by the Command may have encouraged the Customs Controller who has something to showcase to the public and to send a message to the unrepentant economic saboteurs that there is no hiding place for them. This is because his patrol team officers are said to be everywhere, stationed at strategic locations in the two south western states of Oyo and Osun.
An elated Compt. Oramalugo, who had opportunity of being with Journalists on Friday, Dec.,20, 2024, had said that’’ it is to reflect on the significant milestones that had been achieved by the Oyo/Osun Command’’ under his Leadership, between October 30th, 2024 to December 20, 2024.

Surround by some members of his Management team during interaction with the Media in Ibadan, Capital of Oyo state, the Customs Comptroller, who could hold his head high that since he assumed duties in the Command in Septer 2023, he has taken the revenue collection drive and anti-smuggling operations to a new level had said that the accomplishments ‘’underscores the Command unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property , protecting local industries, ensuring compliance with Customs Laws and supporting Nigeria’s economic stability and growth’’.

He was said to have further stated that the achievement by the Command by the Command within the period under review is a bold statement of the officer’s intelligence, enhanced enforcement of the Customs and excise Management Act, 2023 and improved trade facilitation measures.
He was said to have told those that cares to listen that by adopting modern trade facilitation tools and promoting transparency, the Command in no small measure has strengthened stakeholders’ compliance and collection of excise duties by ensuring that areas of revenue leakage are effectively blocked.
The Customs Comptroller who could not his feelings had said that that that the Command was steadfast in enforcing the Federal Government ‘s 2024, fiscal policies, collecting appropriate revenue from import and excise duties and paying into the Federation account on a monthly basis. This is in addition to the Combat efforts at combating smuggling activities that threaten the economy and security f the nation.
He had said that that the Command collected and paid into the Federation account the sum of N15,911,581,116.72, for the months of October and Nov., 2024, which he had confirmed represented an increase of 33.57% when compared to the N11,912,219,301.19, collected within the same period, in 2023, which was said to have coincided with the time he had resumed at the Command as the Area Controller. Much of the duties collected by the Command was said to be from the excise factories operating in the state and not import duties.
For the smugglers operating in the south western states and the neighbouring Republic, they will never forget Compt. Oramalugo and his patrol team officers strategically located in various illegal routes in the border Communities, particular, in Oyo state in a hurry.

The Command was said to have intercepted and made a seizure of 110bags of Asian countries of Thailand and Indian Agricultural par boiled rice, of 50Kg each, 4000 packs of foreign Macaroni, 337 Jerry cans of 25 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popular, petrol, The 337 intercepted and seized jery cans was said to have been loaded with 9,425 litres of petrol.

The cross-border smugglers were said to have also been disposed by the Oyo/Osun patrol team officers 111 Bales of second-hand clothing, 348 pieces of used tyres including prohibited and unlincensed pharmaceutical products and one DAF Truck and one Canter vehicle as well. The combined total duty Paidvalue, DPV, of the seized items was put by Valuation experts at N370,772, 600.00.
Compt. Oramalugo, had said that the seizures that was made by the Command were carried out in strict Compliance to the Provisions of the Economic of West African States, ECOWAS, Common External Tariff, CET, that was said to have provided the list of prohibited items in the subregion.
The Customs Area Controller, who was said to have been given Special Recognition at the last Comptroller General, Gala/Award Night at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, ‘’ For Strategic Community Engagement’’ in his areas of Jurisdiction and who was said to have been selected as one of the Customs men of the year, that was said to have been won by Compt. Olomu of Apapa Command.
He was said to have taken the Oyo/Osun Command to the level that was said to have equally earned him a Special recognition during Comptroller General, Gala and Award Night on Nov. 29, 2024, ‘’for service Excellence’’. The CGC, Special recognition the Oyo/Osun, Customs Area Controller, during the Customs Gala and Award Night may have encouraged t him to double his efforts in the Command revenue drive and anti-smuggling operations.