APPRAISING OYO/OSUN CUSTOM COMMAND

 APPRAISING OYO/OSUN CUSTOM COMMAND..

The establishment of Nigeria Customs Service dated back 1891, T. A. Wall was the Director-General Nigeria Custom Service then, while basically the service is for the collection of inland revenue in Niger Coast protectorate. This is the formalization of the duties which the department had been performing under the Royal Niger Company under the leadership of the past Chief Executives.

Since, the agency has been rated as one of such agencies of government in Nigeria that brings high yield of revenue to the coffers of the federal government through series of windows of their operations.

Although custom services as an agency of government has continued in this trend of revenue generation pipes of government employed infiltrators and albatross to have now become clog in the wheel of development of the agency at achieving the desire goal of the agency.

While Nigeria Custom Service was with vision of Protection of Nigerian society, generation of accurate and precise statistical data by developing a professional, transparent administration that implements international best practices and obligations.

And with the coming on board and appointment of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as Comptroller General of Custom Service by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with confirmation of such appointment on 20th October,2023,  expressed the optimism that Customs under his watch would exceed this year's N3. 6 trillion revenue target going by the reforms aimed at plugging revenue leakages, streamlining the customs clearance process,and addressing the existing at the time.

While the existing of Oyo/Osun customs service command has continued to be in existence with various leadership been at the helms of affairs of the command and making impact or otherwise.

However, with recently change of batton in the leadership from Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba to the new Area Comptroller, Oyo/Osun Command, Nigerian Customs Service, Dr Ben Oramalugo, he has been working assiduously with a total depart from the old order in the command and more or less a new dawn of development effected.

 Just on assumption into office,  Oramalugo solicited for cooperation and peaceful working environment for his officers to perform their duties in their areas of responsibility he solicited for cooperation from traditional rulers in the state.

The Comptroller who notes that such cooperation would eliminate any form of conflict between the residents and Customs officers and men of the service working within the state.

According to a statement by Superintendent of Customs, Kayode Wey, spokesman for the Area Command, Comptroller Oramalugo made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun as he began a familiarization tour of his area command.

The Customs boss while highlighting the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service as trade facilitation, revenue generation and suppression of smuggling during his address, the Customs Area Controller assured that he would uphold the values while performing his duties.

Responding, Oba Balogun assured the Area Controller of further cooperation with the command and Service in general, saying that he operates an open-door policy.

Making references to incidents that had happened in the past between the Nigeria Customs Service and the state indigenes and residents, the monarch reiterated his stance as an advocate of peace.

He added that it would be appreciated if conflicts between the officers and men of the Service and the people of Ibadanlandand environs would be completely eliminated.

Oba Balogun also promised further collaboration to boost the already existing relationship between the palace and the Customs Area command.

Comptroller Ben Oramalugo who was deployed from the Kebbi State Area Command to Oyo/Osun area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service to take over the leadership from Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba who was deployed to the Apapa Area Command when the era then was faulted with irregularities.

The latest sequel to the recent deployment of Area Comptrollers by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for effective activities of the custom service.

While past events and activities of customs service in Oyo/Osun Command has been a serious "paddy paddy" activities between customs officials and smugglers in the border posts like Saki, Igbeti Igboho and other post where men and officials of customs service colluded with smugglers to have a free field days. While it was learnt then led to a face-off between traders and officials of Customs service at Ibadan market.

The case in some of these border posts under Babajide Jaiyeoba then degenerate to a situation that led to interference of other security agencies to pacify duo as accused fingers pointed to the area headquarters at Ibadan for given target they referred to as "SPECIAL RETURNS OF COMPTROLLER"  which according to source, does not go into official coffers.

 Just while Oramalugo formally took over from Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba on Monday, September 18, 2023, as the substantive Customs Area Controller of the Oyo/Osun Area Command, the then rotten atmosphere change completely for good.

During a brief handing over ceremony at the Oyo/Osun Area Command conference room in Ibadan, the outgoing Customs Area Comptroller, who steered the activities of the Command from February 2022 to September 2023, welcomed and congratulated the incoming Customs Area Controller on his posting to the Oyo/Osun Area Command. 

Saying that the Command under his leadership surpassed its revenue target for the year 2022 while adding that the Command so far had collected the sum of 47,408,251,086.73 as revenue and made various seizures of contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 308,282,459.00 for the period of January-September 2023.

He appreciated officers and men of the Command for their cooperation, display of professionalism and resilience, as he emphasized that these qualities enabled the Command achieved set objectives.

He urged all Command officers to ensure they keep working as a team, perform their duties within the ambits of the laws guiding the Service and extend the same cooperation he received to his successor.

 Dr. Oramalugo quickly swung into action, urged all officers to extend to him the same cooperation given to his predecessor, to enable the Command achieve set objectives and attain greater heights. He wished his predecessor well at his new deployment and in all his future endeavours.

He emphasized that he runs an open door policy, and he hopes that Command Officers would continue objectively criticize Command operations with the aim of improving the Commands’ service delivery. 

While in his maiden briefing on the performance of the Nigeria Customs service Oyo/Osun area command under 53 days in office as the Comptroller, Ben Oramalugo says the milestones achieved by the Oyo/ Osun area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service since his assumption of duty on 18th September 2023. Under his leadership, several laudable achievement have been accomplished and aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, revenue generation and suppression of smuggled/prohibited items within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR).

Noting that the Oyo/Osun area Command has a mandate of revenue collection from various Excise factories and the suppression of smuggling within the area of control  more responsive.

The Customs boss who to expresses  gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR dsm fnipr psc (+) that  in his efforts to ensure the realization of the Command’s mandate in the area of suppression of smuggling has made provisions for operational vehicles to the Command and leveraging on the inspiration and support received , hoping to improve their performance subsequent months ahead.

Noting that the score card of the Command is as follows:REVENUE:

During the period covering September to October 2023, the Command through its rigorous enforcement measures and strategic initiatives has contributed to the economic growth of the Nation by collecting the Sum of ₦11,679,732,583.91k (Eleven Billion, Six Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty Three Naira, Ninety One Kobo) as revenue into the coffers of the Federal Government.

 When added to the revenue collected for the period covering January to August 2023, the Command has collected a Sum of ₦59,087,983,670.64k (Fifty Nine Billion, and Eighty Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy Naira, Sixty Four Kobo). 

Oramalugo informed that this feat is made possible by our resolve to continue to prioritize trade facilitation, religiously enforce provisions of the extant laws aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, implementation of various measures to simplify Customs processes, reducing bureaucracy within the system with the aim of promoting legitimate trade and foster a conducive business environment for Excise traders operating within the Command’s Area of Responsibility.

Commenting on anti-smuggling  operations: Noted that during the period under review, the Command with use of intelligence and continuous patrol/enforcement operations has made series of interceptions comprising of:COMMODITY SEIZED QUANTITY DUTY PAID VALUE (₦)Rice1,248 (50kg) Bags # 27,456,000.00. P.M.S.425 (25 Litres) Kegs #2,125,000.00. Used Clothing’s and Used Bags 24 Bales of used Clothing’s Used Bag #4,320,000.00 .#180,000.00. Used Tyres 492 pieces #2,952,000.00. Cannabis Sativa 64 Sacks and 150 Wraps(Weighing 777.5kg) #14,138,460.00. Arms One (01) DANE Gun #9,000.00. TOTAL #51,180,460.00.

However, with the aforementioned analysis and performance score  card at Oyo/Osun Customs command, pointers have indicated a total departure from era of siphoning government funds and collaboration of  unscrupulous officials of the command smugglers, with a levity hands, swindled the nation's economy ,as it was noticed in the immediate past leadership and a total dawn new  for accountability and stewardship as is be reflected now under Ben Oramalugo's leadership.