Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, John Atte, has raised the stakes on revenue generation, setting a new target of N35 billion for his Area Controllers as against the current N13 billion.

The new target was given at a meeting of Customs management and Area Controllers held in Abuja and presided over by the newly appointed Atte. The session discussed strategies to be deployed in blocking revenue leakages, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic policies.

In a statement issued after the meeting by Customs spokesperson, Wale Adeniyi, anti-corruption offices will be set up in various commands to report on the conducts of officers.

Speaking on measures to counter smuggling, the statement read: “The Federal Operations Units were directed to intensify their border patrols to bring smugglers to book. However, the meeting directed an immediate review of operational procedures to give maximum effect to the ban on all hinterland patrols in the country.

“Similarly, all Task Forces under any name or guise operating in all seaports, airports and land borders were disbanded with immediate effect. Officers serving in these adhoc units were to be withdrawn and redeployed immediately.”