Tin-Can Customs records over N237bn revenue in 10 months

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Tin-Can Island Port command said it has generated over N237 billion as revenue posted into the Federation Account in the first 10 months of the year, January to October 2017.

The revenue, according to the command, grew by over N30 billion when compared to approximately N208 billion collected same period in 2016.

Bashar Yusuf, Area Controller of the command, said that the Command has been able to develop and deploy operational templates, which ensures that stakeholders adhere to due diligence and entrench professionalism among officers.

He also pointed out that the Command relied mostly on capacity building, training and re-training to extract reasonable level of professional integrity from the officers which ultimately led to the increase in revenue collection.

Recall that Tin-Can within the period recorded three different seizures including cache of arms, two containers load of suspected controlled drugs (Tramadol) falsely declared as used vehicle and computer accessories.

A statement signed by Uche Ejesieme, Public Relations Officer of the command said that seizures were made through high intelligence profiling using ICT as a major tool.

“Our new strategic focus has strengthen not only statutory responsibility of revenue generation but also ensure safety of lives by decimating the tendency of unscrupulous importers, who bring in unwholesome drugs, particularly Tramadol which consumption would naturally have a consequential effect on our youths,” the CAC said.

On his plans for the ember months, the Controller, who reassured that no stone would be left unturned, said that efforts have been made to ensure a sustained increase in revenue generation as well as facilitation of legitimate trade. He also applauded port users for an improved compliant to rules guiding trade.

“Customs is putting measures in place to curb the influx of arms which is why the Service recently unveiled plans to introduce the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme, a platform that will enhance the streamlining of cargo clearance”.

AEO is a programme introduced by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to facilitate trade given the security situation associated with import and export businesses across international borders.

“We will continue to rejigg and restrategize to ensure that we remain on top of our statutory functions with a view to ensuring that the confidence reposed on us by the Customs management is not taken for granted”.

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie