Customs breaks revenue record, collects N140.4 billion in August.

TAYO OLADIPUPO |

The Nigeria Customs Service has said it recorded the highest ever monthly revenue collection in the month of August worth N140.4 billion.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah made this known in a press statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

Attah said the Service collected a whooping N140,415,355,659.97 in the month of August 2018, a feat which has never been recorded in the history of the NCS.

The statement, however, stated that the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali likened the collection to dogged pursuit of the reform programmes of the Service.

According to him, the programmes include;

“Strategic deployment of manpower Upgrade on the electronic systems from Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS I) to NICIS II which has blocked leakages.

*Strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the Tariff and Trade department.

*Robust stakeholder engagements resulting in higher compliance.

*Increased disposition of Officers and Men to change the way of doing things for the better.

Attah added, “Ali’s implementation of three pronged Presidential mandate of Restructure, Reform and Raise revenue in NCS has continued to strengthen the Service as a crucial contributor to National economy and Security.

“In the last eight months, the Service has effected seizures of 156,090 bags of smuggled rice, 15,632 sets of military wears, 489,000 ammunitions and other items with the highest monthly revenue collection of over N140 billion in August 2018.

“These positive harvests in the areas of anti-smuggling and revenue generation is a clear testimony of what can be achieved under a selflessly focused leadership.

“NCS therefore calls on Nigerians to support the Service by providing credible information that will help nip smuggling at the bud and generate needed revenue for national development”, it read.