From left: Comptroller Kayode Kolade hands over reins of power at the Federal Operations Unit Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service to Comptroller Michael Ugbagu at the Zone C headquarters, Owerri, Imo State capital.

The Federal Operations Unit Zone “C” of the Nigeria Customs Service has said it seized contraband goods worth N7.6billion between January 25th, 2023 and April 19th, 2024.

Outgoing Controller of the Zone, Comptroller Kayode Kolade disclosed this in a farewell message during a brief handover to his successor, Comptroller Michael Ugbagu.

Kayode thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his entire management team, for the trust and confidence reposed on him to serve as Controller FOU Zone C and for replacing him with Comptroller Ugbagu, who he described as a thorough enforcement guru.

“I am grateful to the Comptroller-General of Customs; Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR and his entire management team, for the trust and confidence bestowed on me from January 25th 2023 to April 19th 2024 as I handover the affairs of this unit to another amiable Comptroller Michael Ugbagu, who is also a thorough enforcement guru”, Comptroller Kolade said.

He also thanked officers of the unit for their unparalleled support, commitment, dedication, handwork and prayers, adding that their support was the reason for his successes.

 “With all your support and cooperation, the Unit within my tenure was able to make substantial and spectacular seizures; totaling 198 with a duty paid value of N7.6billion The details include five sacks of Pangolin scales weighing 413.1kg worth N523.4million and 1,813 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice worth N105.1million and 815 sacks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 17,950kg and 2,935 parcels (1kg each) weighing 2,935kg (totaling 20,885KG) worth N1.7billion.

“A breakdown of other seizures 1.DSP/CMC Cough syrup with Codeine, 31 cartons containing 3,600 bottles valued at N21.6million, two vehicles, 52 units including three amoured vehicles valued at N4.3billion, explosive devices comprising nine sacks of 50kg of explosive materials/super powder90 substances/cables valued at N12.9million”, Comptroller Kolade said.

It was further gathered that the unit within the review period also seized used clothes and shoes comprising 1,807 jumbo bales of used clothes, 48 sacks of used shoes with estimated value put at N451.8million and N4.8million respectively.

The unit also seized unregistered and expired medicaments during the period under review, which consist of 955 cartons of expired/various brands including tramadol with a street value estimated at N238.8million as well as used pneumatic tyres comprising 6,457 pieces worth N96.9million and foreign spaghetti loaded in 364 cartons valued at N7.3million and foreign tomato pastes comprising 4,693 cartons with a street value of N234.7million.

Also seized were 80 jerry cans of 25kg of vegetable oil worth N600,000, foreign soaps comprising 1,329 cartons of Eva soap worth N33.3million, petroleum products comprising 32 jerry cans 25litres of Premium Motor Spirit PMS valued at N468,000.

He added that although FOUC is not a revenue-generating unit, under his watch and based on interventions to checkmate the activities of fraudulent agents at the seaports, lots of lost revenues were recovered to the tune of N155.8million within his 15 months in office.

Comptroller Kayode also reconstructed and equipped a clinic at the Unit’s office, in Owerri, where officers and men, as well members of the host community enjoy free healthcare services administered by the unit’s qualified medical personnel.

In addition, to ensure a healthy work-life balance, he carved out a very spacious office for sports activities with fully installed gym equipment where officers and men can exercise.

He called on everyone to extend same support and cooperation to his successor, Comptroller Michael Ugbagu as he pilots the affairs of the unit.

In his response, Comptroller Michael Ugbagu thanked the CGC and his entire management team for bestowing him with the mandate to oversee the affairs of FOUC.

He thanked Comptroller Kolade for his “highly commendable achievements while he held sway and pledged continued compliance with established guidelines.

 “We will ensure compliance with the current import and export guidelines using intelligence and technology to drive our operations.

 “There will be a watertight security against smuggling activities across the zone. Smugglers will be discouraged, frustrated and made uncomfortable, thereby making smuggling, duty evasion and warehousing of smuggled goods unattractive within the zone “, he said.

He called for support and cooperation from the media and the general public to enable him carry out his new assignment.