The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has so far surpassed its revenue target this year. This was stated by Mr Timi Bomodi, the Deputy National Public Relations Officer, (NCS) at a stakeholders/media engagement on trade facilitation held in Lagos on yesterday. He spoke on the topic: “Trade facilitation, a tool for enhanced revenue generation: The NCS perspective.”
According to the NCS spokesman, the organisation has so far generated N2.3 trillion revenue into the federation account in 2021. This, he stated, was against the target of N1.679 trillion.
He explained that “the 2021 has been eventful for NCS, as it achieves major milestones, in spite of the debilitating effect of COVID-19, which has had negative effects on the socio-economic lives of people around the globe.
“The year began with high expectations with regards to revenue generation and the enforcement of fiscal policy and based on 2020 target achieved was given the onerous task of collecting N1.679 trillion.
“In the current year, the NCS has already exceeded expectations in revenue generation by going beyond the target set for it by the government, achieving N2.3 trillion”.
Bomodi also revealed that NCS has not relented in its resolve to seize prohibited items imported into the country.
“In August, the service made seizures of 17,137 kg of pangolin scales, 44 kg elephant tusks and 60 kg in pangolin claws all valued at over N22 billion.
“This was made possible through active collaboration between NCS, U.S, the UK, and German officials who helped in tracking the suspicious shipment and led to the arrest and prosecution of some foreign nationals and their local collaborators.
“In October FOU operatives in zone A seized 751 bullets concealed in garri sacks, while arms, ammunition and military uniforms were intercepted at Tincan port Lagos in September just to mention a few.
“Our warehouses in all border formations are overflowing with seizures of rice, groundnut oil, used clothing, used vehicles and others,” he said.
He stated that the Apapa Area I Command, through collaboration with sister agencies and the Nigerian Navy, a landmark seizure of cocaine with a DPV of 54 million dollars was made.
On expectations for next year, he said “we hope in 2022, importers, exporters and their agents will comply willingly and take full advantage of the opportunities NCS offers for expedited clearance”.
Meanwhile, the NCS Apapa Comptroller, Malanta Yusuf, explained that trade facilitation had to do with harmonisation, standardisation, modernisation and automation of trade procedures in the supply chain by deploying minimal resources in order to get great output.
“NCS have deployed tools to ensure that trade was being facilitated for people to carry out their goods on time without it accumulating demurrage, deploy scanners to ensure the use of selectivity in inspection of containers,” he said.
