Customs generates N51.6bn from vehicle import in 3 months

Abiola Seun

The Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, said it generated a total of N51.63billion from imported used and new vehicles between January to March 2022.

In a press statement by the command’s public relations officer, Muhammad Yakubu, he said the sum collected for 2022 first quarter is 10.2 percent higher than what was collected last year.

According to him, N46.85billion was realized same period of 2021 showing an increase of N4.77billion in the months under review.

Yakubu, however, said that the customs area controller of the PTML Command, Compt. Festus Okun, lauded the feat and described it as an evidence of productivity on the part of the officers and men despite operational challenges.

The Comptroller stated further that the Command will always live up to it’s responsibilities of revenue collection, suppression of smuggling and trade facilitation.

He urged importers and their agents to maximize the quick clearance potentials of the Command by being compliant all the time through making of sincere declarations and obeying all extant rules as contained in the Customs and Excise Management Act, import and export prohibition lists as well as other documents of instruction.

The CAC also urged officers to remain uncompromising in the discharge of their duties while thanking them for their steadfastness and promotion of cordial relationship with stakeholders,even in the face of recent strike action over Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) valuation

Okun also stated that it is more expensive to be non compliant as it could lead to seizures, arrests, detention, demand notices and penalties

According to him, compliant traders enjoy timely and cost saving services from the NCS and other regulatory, security and intelligence agencies

Comptroller Okun said” We as a model port dealing more with Roll on Roll off(RoRo) cargoes.

“We have always maintained a standard of four hour clearance time for compliant traders. I am urging all our importers and agents using PTML to take advantage of our seamless trade facilitation capacity.

” They can enjoy it only when they make sincere declarations and import in compliance with the law. It is important I remind them that compliance results in more profits and time saving.

“Non compliance either leads to seizures, demand notices, penalties arrests and prosecution. We as a command will never bend the rules for anyone because our service is a strategic organisation for collection of non oil revenue for the Federal Government

” Our patriotism to the country will continually grow as exemplified by our Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali,Rtd and members of his management team” he said

For the second quarter which ends first half of the year, Comptroller Okun charged officers and men to redouble their efforts at ensuring no revenue leakage is allowed and infractions are promptly detected for necessary action.