The Customs Command for the Ondo- Ekiti area has stated that it exported a total of 2,233 containers of cocoa beans from January to August 2021, a boost to Nigeria’s export diversification policies through agriculture.
This was disclosed by Controller Uche Ngozi of the Ondo/Ekiti Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday during a working visit of the Zonal Coordinator of NCS, Zone A, ACG Modupe Aremu, in Akure, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
The Customs boss revealed that it operates on an offdock area in the zone, which is neither seaport, international airport nor border, citing that the area command generated revenue through interventions from the appraisal of Demand Notice (DN) on vehicles with duty infringement, collection of duty from parcel post and excise and supervision of cocoa exportation.
READ: Nigeria’s cocoa exports to fall by $100m as prices rise in futures market
What the Ondo-Ekiti customs Controller said
Controller Uche Ngozi said, “On assumption in office, I made it a duty to pay a courtesy visit to all sister agencies in Ondo and Ekiti state respectively.
“From July 5 that I assumed office as the controller, the command recorded a remarkable increase in revenue recovery with the sum of N27,919,502 for July and August against N19,618,387 for same months in 2020, an increase of N8,238,115.”
READ: Sesamum seed, cocoa, cashew nuts top Nigeria’s agricultural exports in Q1 2021
She added that customs is working with the Cooperate Affairs Commission seeking approval for excise license factories.
Meanwhile, the controller of Oyo/Osun Area Command, Cer Adamu Abdulkadir said that the command generated N23 billion from January to August, stating that the command generated N10 billion in June, had 169 seizures and 13 suspects.
What you should know
Recall Nairametrics reported that Nigeria’s agricultural export stood at N127.2 billion in the first three months (January – March) of 2021. This represents a 128% increase compared to N55.8 billion recorded in the previous quarter (Q4 2020).
READ: COVID-19: Over 5,000 tonnes of cocoa beans are stuck in Nigeria
Top Agro exports in Q1 2021
- Sesamum seeds – N41.94 billion
- Cocoa beans – N35.49 billion
- Cashew nuts – N13.71 billion
- Coconuts – N8.66 billion
- Ginger – N5.57 billion
