By Jimmy Enyeh
Those who have the records of the activities of Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, of the Nigeria Customs Service will attest to the submission that one cannot write the history of Zone A without imprinting the name of Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu in the good books of the unit.
In a country where issues are profoundly politicized and achievements of uniformed men are viewed with distrust and x-rayed for ulterior motives, Ejibunu is an exception. Those conversant with the workings of the Customs Service as regards checkmating the smuggling of contrabands are unanimous in the appraisal of Ejibunu as having given his best in waging war against smuggling of contraband goods.
Stakeholders who monitored the mode of operations while Comptroller Ejibunu was in charge of FOU Zone A, Ikeja are quick to add that the vibrant Customs officer came, saw and conquered. He sure had masterful accomplishments. Perhaps one of the most compelling factors that culminated in his success story was his penchant for teamwork. Under his astute leadership at FOU Zone A, Ejibunu and his team ensured activities of smugglers were tamed.
Ejibunu’s success story was not a mere coincidence; it was a testament to the strategic acumen and innovative approaches introduced by the never-say-die Customs officer.
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While corroborating the above view on teamwork, Comptroller Ejibunu appreciated officers and men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A for their hard work and dedication to duty, and other security agencies for their coordinated efforts, support and cooperation towards some of the successes recorded by the unit in the preceding year, 2023.
He stated that the unit activated an enhanced intelligence-gathering and information-sharing mechanism, which led to 60 seizures during the period under review.
“We were able to identify some new smuggling hotspots and schemes employed by smugglers. This strategy yielded 60 seizures worth a total duty paid value of N854,156,712,” he noted.
Worthy of commendation and notable among his numerous achievements are 3,189 seizures worth N35.9 billion from September 10, 2021, to April 19, 2024. The unit also recovered the sum of N 2.25 billion through the issuance of demand notices (D/N) due to transfer of value and wrong classification. Prominent among the seizures recorded by the unit within the review period are: – 222,285 X 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (370 trailer loads); 1,140,864 litres of premium motor spirit (33 tankers); 16,432.30kg of Indian hemp; 26,303 pieces of used pneumatic tyres and 11,175 bales of used clothes. Others are 751x 70mm of live cartridges; 12,912 cartons of foreign frozen poultry products; 5,033 pieces of donkey skin, 450 x 106kg drums of carbide; 233 cartons x 225mg of Tramadol 7,640, cartons of expired and unapproved drugs; 303 units of foreign used vehicles and 104 Haojue motorcycles.
In a similar development, 386 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures while. 22 people were convicted for committing different Customs offences. Under his watch, FOU ‘A’ Customs seized unmarked drugs worth N2.8 billon, a seizure that stakeholders described as unprecedented. In the same vein, 80,025 litres of premium motor spirit bagged in sacks were impounded by FOU ‘A’ operatives at the Badagry area of Lagos State.
While Ejibunu’s tenure lasted, it had an undeniable impact on revenue generation. The unit witnessed a significant upswing in revenue, contributing to the national coffers. The unit generated the sum of N83,141,803.60 through documentary checks and issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have been short-paid.
One other achievement that stood out was enhanced trade facilitation via providing escorts for goods on fast track for compliant traders.
Jimmy Enyeh sent this piece via [email protected]
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