Customs service eyes N1.2 trillion in 2014
- Decorates 4,225 promoted officers
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, on Thursday said the Service anticipates generating the sum of N1.2 trillion this year, adding that integrity and compliance were crucial to achieving the objective.
He also warned that hard times awaited revenue offenders in 2014, saying the NCS was committed to the prosecution culprits to serve as deterrent to others.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on the current restructuring drive of the Service, as well as the decoration of its newly promoted officers, he said 2014 would be full of challenges but enjoined staff members to be more diligent and committed to their duties.
He said there would be sustained commitment to ongoing reforms and modernisation adding that the “NCS has never had it good in technological transformation than 2013, where we have developed NCIS (Nigeria Integrated Custom Information System) which has started working smoothly.”
He said: “Today the modern Customs is about trade facilitation and want to prove to federal government that we have come of age and we have built the technological competence that can stand the test of time.”
The Customs boss further disclosed that the board had during its maiden meeting for 2014 presided over by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala last week approved new measures to strengthen the Service to position it to implement new policies aimed at boosting the country’s revenue profile.
Part of the board resolutions, according to him, was the elevation of senior officers to managerial positions, following the voluntary retirement of three Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs), who were also members of the board.The retired DCGs include Garba Markafi, Manassah Jatau and Yinusa Saka.
Dikko said five new DCGs had been appointed from each of the geo-political zones into the management board-bringing its total numbers to six. They are John Atte from Bayelsa and representing the South-south; Ibrahim Mera from Kebbi( North-west); Musa Tahir who hails from Borno and representing the North-east. Other newly promoted deputy comptrollers general of customs are Austin Nwosu, Enugu (representing South-east); Ade Adewuyi, Oyo (representing South-west) and Gabriel Aliyu from Kogi (representing North-central).
He said altogether, a total of 4,225 officers and men were promoted, adding that the management would continue to recognise hard work in the service.
He said:”The new year will be full of challenges for the Service. I will continue to count on your support for a successful year.”
On the revenue projection for the year, Abdullahi said: “I think from today we will start the arithmetic of how we are going to achieve that figure. It is very easy. How? It is when we ensure integrity and recognise compliance that is how we are going to achieve it.”
He said: “NCS is not particular about prosecution of revenue offenders. This year 2014 is going to be a different year where we are going to try those people who are revenue offenders as to serve as deterrent to others.
“Today we are not only fighting smuggling, we are fighting terrorism. I urge you officers to be on alert and save the life and property of Nigerians.”
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