Border Closure: Customs Generates N144bn As Vehicle Import Increases

Abiola Seun |

The Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of Nigeria Customs Service has collected a total of N144billion between January and November 2019, surpassing its 2019 target of N123B ahead of December collections.

The recorded collection has also surpassed N109,623,404,403 that was collected within same period of 2018 with a value increase of N34,000,489,882 which represents 31% increase

The increase in revenue is attributable to rising cargo throughput in the command noted for Roll On Roll Off (RoRo) consignments, border closure that suppressed smuggling and increased vehicle importation to the seaport, sustained due diligence and trade facilitation by the Customs Area Controller, Mrs. Florence Olasunmbo Dixon; commitment to duty by our officers and increasing level of compliance by most vehicle importers using the port.

Our Controller ensures high level of discipline among officers, promotes punctuality to work and leads the way in trade facilitation by ensuring that entries and transactions within customs control are treated with speed.

Her improved Customs Community Relations exhibited in regular interactions with stakeholders and supported by open door administration has also contributed immensely to the command’s successes in many ways.

According to Comptroller (Mrs) Florence Dixon, “We in PTML Command will continue to do our best in ensuring the Controller General of Customs’ zero tolerance for infractions, duty evasion and always shun all forms of corruption.

“We are committed to federal government goal of trade facilitation without compromising national security. Six-hour cargo clearance within our port is possible with sincere and accurate declarations backed up with prompt duty payment ” she said.

“A comparative breakdown of our monthly collections from January to November of 2018 and 2019 shows monthly percentage increases which resulted cumulatively to the over N34b difference within 11 months of both years.

“For instance, collection for January 2018 was 9,967,751,491 while 2019 was 14,850,154,616 which shows a forty-nine percent increase. In February of both years, 2018 collection was N7,267,306,206 while 2019 was N10,024,673,259 showing thirty percent increase. For the month of March, N8,422,060,484 was collected in 2018 and N11,853,972,028 was collected which translates to forty-two percent increase”, she declared.