The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi Area Command, on Wednesday, 8th October 2025, held its maiden press briefing under the leadership of its new Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mahmoud Matawalle Ibrahim, fdc.
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The briefing, which took place at the Command Headquarters, attracted several high-profile guests, including the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Adamu Isah Gano, represented by Superintendent of Quarantine Muhammad Bashir Abdulrazaq; the Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Kebbi State Command, Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Sokoto; and the Commander, Operation Whirlwind Zone B, Assistant Comptroller of Customs N.O. Edet, alongside other senior officers and key stakeholders.
In his address, Comptroller Matawalle commended the dedication and professionalism of officers under his command, noting that within just one month in office, the Command had achieved remarkable operational results.
He revealed that officers of Operation Whirlwind Zone B intercepted 14,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with an estimated value of ₦8.85 million, while the Kebbi Area Command recorded an additional seizure of 20,975 litres, valued at ₦12.58 million, bringing the total to 35,725 litres. He explained that, in line with extant regulations, the seized PMS would be auctioned publicly, and all proceeds duly remitted to the Federal Government treasury.
On revenue generation, the Controller announced a 36.13% increase in earnings compared to the previous month. The Command generated ₦25,621,609.26 in September 2025 — a reflection of improved efficiency and renewed commitment under his leadership.
Speaking on anti-smuggling operations, Comptroller Matawalle disclosed that officers of the Command made multiple significant seizures within the past month. These included 100 bales of second-hand clothing, 444 laptop-sized wraps of Cannabis Sativa, 143 mini sacks of donkey meat, 140 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 100 bags of foreign parboiled rice, and 20 jerrycans of vegetable oil.
The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these seized items was put at ₦109,595,761, underscoring the Command’s firm resolve to curb smuggling and protect Nigeria’s economy.
As part of ongoing inter-agency collaboration, Comptroller Matawalle formally handed over the 444 wraps of Cannabis Sativa to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the 143 sacks of donkey meat to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS). Representatives of both agencies commended the Customs Command for its vigilance and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the partnership against illicit trade across Nigeria’s borders.
The Comptroller reiterated that the Kebbi Command remains fully committed to its core mandate of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security, emphasizing that the achievements recorded so far are only the beginning of greater results to come.
Signed:
Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Mubarak Mustapha
2iC Public Relations Officer, Kebbi Area Command
For: Customs Area Controller
Nigeria Customs Service
8th October 2025
