The Murtala Muhammed Airport command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja, on Thursday, said it generated N47.24 billion between January to June 2023.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, the Customs Area Controllers, MMA, Compt. Muhammed Yusuf, stated that the revenue generated in 2023 was 17.14 per cent higher than what was generated in 2022.
According to him, the command also intercepted male donkey genitals and dried shark fins worth N1.23 billion at the Lagos Airport, saying the seized items were on the verge of being exported out of the country to China and Hong Kong respectively.
She said the 2023 revenue represented 83.24 per cent compared to N40.35 billion generated in half year 2022.
According to him, the male donkey genitals were harvested from Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, by a Chinese, saying donkeys as endangered species must be protected from going into extinction.
He said, “From the period of January – July 2023, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command generated a total of N47.24 billion which represents 83.24 per cent of the target met. When compared to the same period in 2022 of N40.35 billion a progressive difference of N6.9 billion representing 17.14 per cent increase.”
Speaking in anti smuggling, Yusuf said, “the Command made remarkable successes through coordinated anti-smuggling activities in synergy with other critical stakeholders which led to the seizure of six packages of suspected Dried Shark Fins with FOB Value of N221.8 million and also 25 packages of suspected Dried Donkey Genitals with FOB value of N1.01 billion making a total of N 1.23 billion.”
“We have over 1000 fishes whose fins have been harvested here and if this is allowed to go, high numbers of donkeys will be endangered and we will ask them to desist from this act. Animals in the sea have roles they play and endangering them will mean a lot to the ecosystem and for us in NCS we make sure we do our jobs and things like this under export prohibition are not allowed to go.
“The culprits have been apprehended and investigation is ongoing to know where these things come from and I know that in Nigeria waters we don’t have enough sharks that are up to this. This is supposed to be exported out of the country and nabbed at the point of documentation. 1700 pieces of sharks are endangered and they are going to Hong Kong this is the first time we are seizing this in the command.
“Donkeys are an endangered species and they came from Abakaliki and we begin to wonder why they came from there. We have a lot of donkeys in Abakaliki and now that they are endangered species these things continuously go out. You can imagine the roles they play in the ecosystem. As it is, the Chinese man has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.”
“The suspects in connection with this illegal intended Export have been arrested and investigation is ongoing. These items were seized mainly because of various forms of infractions on Export guidelines and failure to comply with CITES Law on endangered species as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act.”
“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate my Officers and Men for their dedication to the Service. I urge them to always adhere strictly to the rules of engagements while discharging their statutory duties.”