The Nigeria Customs Service says it generated the sum of N1.56 trillion for the year 2020.
Customs Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday said the amount generated is over the target of N1.38 trillion and also over the sum of N1.3 trillion generated in 2019 despite the COVID -19 pandemic.
Attah further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Finance has purchased three scanners for the Service while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also expressed its commitment to procure additional four scanners and establish the control center for monitoring all scanning sites in their bid to boost national economy, especially agricultural sector.
Attah quoted the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, as saying that the feat was as a result of resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by COVID-19.
“We also insist on strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and trade department as well as automation of the Customs process thereby eliminating vices associated with the manual process.
“Others are robust stakeholder sensitization resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance. Increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above selves.
“The partial border closure which has forced cargoes that could have been smuggled through the porous borders to come through the sea and airports raised revenue collection from ports.
“Before the commencement of the border drill on 20th August 2019, revenue generation was between N4 billion to N5 billion but now NCS generates between N5 billion to N9 billion daily.
“Diplomatic engagements that took place during the partial land border closure yielded many positive results, including commitment to comply with the ECOWAS Protocol on Transit. Operationalization of joint border patrols at both sides of the border.
“The teams are required to share intelligence and ensure prevention of transit of prohibited goods into the neighbor’s territory,” he said.
“Within the next six months, NCS will have about seven functional scanners to be mounted at strategic entry points even before the full deployment of e-Customs components which will see to the deployment of 135 modern scanners.
“NCS appreciates and commends the leadership of CBN for this strategic intervention in the interest of the nation.
“In the same vein, the Service efforts to prevent the entry of items that could compromise the security of our citizens, economy and the well being of our people resulted in the seizures of 4,304 assorted items with a duty paid value of N28,287,285,847.52.
“These seizures include arms, ammunitions, illicit drugs, used clothing, vegetable oil, frozen poultry and foreign rice among others that have grave consequences on economy security and well being of Nigerians.
“While we give assurances of total commitment to the course of protecting national security and economy, we call on Nigerians, especially the business community to support the NCS as our borders open to African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in order to benefit from the trade agreement and other cross border activities,” he added.