<img src=”https://greatalternativenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG20250709121540-300×225.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”225″ class=”size-medium wp-image-5847″ /> Comptroller Awe presenting his Command’s performance at the briefing.
Story by Dili Utomi.
“B’ Odogwu is working well with no network failures and the NICISS II will soon be phased completely out”.
Above are the words of the Customs Area Controller of the Murtala Mohammed Airport Area Command, Comptroller Michael Awe this afternoon during the question and answers session as he detailed the performance of his Command during a press briefing at his Command.
The Command has in the course of the past six months (January to June 2025) generated a total of 97 billion, 157 million, 711 Thousand, 817 naira, 56 Kobo only in Customs duties
and other related fees against the 80 Billion, 351 Million, 299 Thousand, 68 Naira generated in the corresponding period in 2024. The 2025 revenue reflects a significant increase of 16 Billion, 806 Million, 412 Thousand, 749 Naira, 56 kobo which represents 20.92% growth.
The CAC in his speech said “This impressive performance was as a result of increased compliance from our traders, close monitoring of transactions, quick response to irregularities, and effective blockage of revenue leak points. We extend our sincere appreciation to all compliant importers, exporters and clearing agents for their continued support towards achieving our revenue targets”.
In the area of anti-smuggling activities, during the second quarter, the Command was said to have successfully intercepted and seized the following prohibited items:
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1. 18 pieces of Tippmann Semi – Automatic Calibre Mag-Fed Paintball Markers
and 32 pieces of empty Tippmann Tank Cylinders with the duty paid value
of 18 Million, 317 thousand, 716 Naira.
2. 20 pieces of Ballistic Helmets with the duty paid value of 2 million, 68
thousand, 197 naira.
3. 75 bags of pangolin scales weighing 3,765kg valued at 772 Million, 399
Thousand, 352 Naira, 86 kobo.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these seizures stands at 792 Million,785
Thousand, 266 Naira, 37 kobo only
Comprriller Awe added “Let me use this opportunity to assure the public that the Command remains firmly committed to curbing all forms of unlawful trade. We will continue to enforce all applicable laws and regulations with integrity, discipline, and zero tolerance for smuggling”.
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In the area of stakeholders engagement, the CAC promised to continue with his open door police while noting that “The Command has maintained a cordial relationship with all its stakeholders and this has been a critical pillar of our successes. We have nurtured this relationship through regular interactions, information sharing, and mutual cooperation, which has resulted in faster decision-making and better operational outcomes. The Command remains firmly committed to this collaborative engagement”.
Comptroller Awe also revealed that the the sports facilities within the Command are being put into use as he said “The Command initiated a sporting competition in the second quarter purposely to foster inter agency collaboration between Customs & other partners. This event promoted physical fitness, mental alertness, and comradeship among personnel and other stakeholders operating in this area of jurisdiction. The competition featured games such as badminton, table tennis, volleyball, draught as well as football”.
During the question and answers session, the CAC said that he reckons that there are about 70% compliance level in the declaration of cargoes, but that the problem is that the airliners are not cooperating in the use of B’ Odogwu as they have decided to stick to the NICISS II that is about to be phased out.
A Director at the Nigerian Environmental Safety and Regulatory Agency (NESREA), Mr. Jonathan Sylvanus Dajal who was on hand with his team to receive some of the seized items said that “Pangolin falls under the protection of wildlife as they are endangered species”. He added that “NESREA ensures that environmental law offenders are punished” while noting that “the issue of environmental protection is the responsibility of everyone in the society”.
<img src=”https://greatalternativenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG20250709130153-300×225.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”225″ class=”size-medium wp-image-5849″ /> The CAC with his officers and men from sister agencies behind the seized items.
Comptroller Awe took journalists round the warehouse were the seized items were stored , he noted that the items were abandoned when the importers and their agents suspected that the law enforcement agencies had a wind of the smuggled items and were closing in on them.
He commended the commitments and dedication of his officers, the media for their reportage of facts on the Command’s activities as he also congratulated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi on his election as the Chairperson, Council of the World Customs Organisation.
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