Customs in record N162bn revenue haul at Tin Can port 

Musa Abdulahi
Musa Abdulahi

The Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has generated N162 billion as revenue into the federation account from January to June 2018.

The revenue, according to the command, represents N32.6 billion increase when compared to the sum of N130 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2017.

Controller of the command, Comptroller Musa Baba Abdullahi who disclosed this during a meeting with some stakeholders in his office recently, said the command has been repositioned as the most business friendly port as all compliant declarants will be duly compensated and given special preference.

“We are deploying multi-layered approach in addressing the issues of compliance which is a panacea to trade facilitation, through reward for compliance and ensuring that compliant declarants are given expeditious attention in line with the presidential directive on Ease of Doing Business.” a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, Uche Ejesieme, on Monday quoted the Controller as saying.

Controller Abdulahi also pointed out that the command would soon commence full automation of key seats in the command to enable seamless operations as he made reference to the just concluded training of officers on E-Transire and National Security Adviser (NSA) end user procedure certificate.

On seizures and detentions, the Controller said the command effected seizure of assorted offending items ranging from used clothing, children toys, furniture, bags of Rice, shoes, handbags, used vehicles with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N138 million as against N88 millon recorded within the corresponding period of 2017.

He recalled that during the period under review, the command also made seizures of large quantity of ammunition and other military hardware during physical examinations. He assured that the command will not lower its guards in ensuring that such illicit consignment does not pass through the command.

He stated that the command is in steady progression in all aspects of its primary functions and urged stakeholders to take advantage of the various complaints platforms in channeling their genuine grievances for necessary action.

On the recurring issues of multiple alerts due to non compliance with the fiscal policies, the CAC while charging importers and agents on honest declarations assured that with the take off of the “One Stop Shop” area under construction, the issue of multiple alerts would become history.