The Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller-General Victor Gbemudu is optimistic that the Zone, which houses the major revenue generating commands and has the highest revenue target in the proportionate distribution of budget for this fiscal year, will meet its target.
Gbemudu gave the assurance in a chat with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY in his office yesterday.
While acknowledging the low level of importation into the country in the first quarter of the year, Gbemudu said that it is still early to draw any form of conclusion as to whether the Service will realise its revenue target or not.
“We are aware that the volume of cargo has dropped, but we are still not taking that as an excuse. We will continue to do our best to see that revenue due to any importation is collected. We hope that within the course of the year, the volume of cargo might come up so there is no gain saying that will we not be able to meet the revenue that is expected of us. I’m still optimistic that we will be able to get there,” he said.
According to him, the Service has taken necessary steps in stemming revenue leakages and suppressing smuggling.
Gbemudu noted that when importers, some of whom he said have been depriving the Federal Government of huge revenue through smuggling of goods such as poultry products and rice through the land borders are compliant, the revenue collection of the Service would be enhanced.
He warned that deviant importers will continue to forfeit their goods.
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