By 
By Frank Oshanugor
Authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Border Command have debunked what they described as “misleading
narrative in some quarters of the public that the Seme-Krake border has not been fully reopened.’
The Customs said such allegation has tended to limit a seamless inflow and outflow of legitimate goods.
In a statement on Saturday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Custom Hussaini Abdulkahi on behalf of the Seme Command Customs Area Controller said “It is pertinent to state that since the re-opening of some land borders by the Federal Government of Nigeria in December, 2020 with Seme Border Command being among the four borders re-opened, its operations has since been sustained on a full scale.”
“Although some initial hitches were encountered by our Nigerian importers concerning high charges of fees and levies imposed on the Nigeria bound goods before entry.”
The statement said that “on the other hand, the Command made pragmatic moves towards cementing a synergy and cooperation with the host community and other security agencies including the Republic of Benin Security agencies operating at the joint border post.”
“Furthermore, the sum of four hundred and thirty one million, one hundred and sixty thousand, three hundred naira seventy two kobo *(N431,160,300.72)* only was realized as revenue while four hundred and nine million, eight hundred and fifty seven thousand, five hundred and thirty three naira, fourteen kobo *(N409,857,533.14)* as duty paid value (DPV) from seizures during the period of January to date”
“In addition, the Command was able to process and exit the following number of trucks within the period of January to date; ETLS one thousand fifty nine *(1059)* , EXPORT two thousand four hundred and eighty seven *(2487)* , IMPORT/BAGGAGE one hundred and seventy nine *(179)* and a total of seven hundred and thirteen *(713)* declarations were captured and processed.”
According to Controller, “the foregoing achievements are indication that the border is not only open, but fully operational since the re-opening of the four (4) land borders by the Federal Government.”
To this end, the Command has called on the general public to disregard such false information as it was just an imagination of the perpetrators mischievously aimed at casting doubt in the mind of Nigerians that are engaging with their legitimate businesses at the border.
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