Customs Revenue Rises By 11 percent

ABIOLA Seun |

The revenue recorded by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Tin Can Island Command in August this year rose by 11.1 per cent or about N3.244 billion as against the level in the corresponding period of last year.

The Command collected a sum of N31.848 billion in August this year compared to N28.603 billion it generated in the same period of last year.

Though the command did not give reasons for the slight increase in revenue, indications are that the development is due to the various tools that have been put in place in recent times by the Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Musa to boost revenue collection and payment, improvement in the compliance by the importers in the payment of import duty and the increase in the commitment of officers to their duties.

However, beyond the revenue, the Command has also initiated fresh projects, namely the ‘One stop shop or a /One Treatment Area’ to enhance the Operations of the Query & Amendment Department, Ultra-Modern Canteen and Mini Sports Pitch for the use of officers.

While conducting the Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller General, Dahiru Aminu round the projects, Comptroller Musa noted that the projects became imperative following the need to re-position the Command to an enviable height in order to add further impetus to its status as the most User Friendly Port in the sub-region.

Declaring open, the One Treatment Area /One Stop Shop, Dahiru lauded the Customs Area Controller for his thoughtfulness and stated that the facility would address the incessant complaints of multiplicity of alerts, which hitherto was a recurring decimal.

He enjoined the stakeholders to take advantage of the project, especially for the facilitation of ‘’Legitimate Trade”. The centre will house Query and Amendment (Q & A), Valuation and CIU for the synchronization and harmonization of trade disputes.

Similarly, the Zonal Coordinator, while commissioning the Ultra-Modern Canteen and a Mini Sports Pitch, congratulated the Customs Area Controller for embarking on projects with considerable significance to the well-being of the officers/men.

He particularly eulogized the Management and Staff of Seven Up Bottling Company Limited for donating a synthetic Mini Pitch as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and noted that it will serve the sporting needs of both officers and their esteemed stakeholder.

Meanwhile, the Command has also organized a two- day seminar for the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA) following its formal request for training on “End User Certification (EUC) Documentation Guideline and Requirement.

Declaring the session open, the Customs Area Controller emphasized the importance of EUC as a regulatory document and urged Importers and their Agents to ensure strict compliance with the processes and procedures in the interest of National Security.

Generally speaking, the CAC harped on the need for Stakeholders to build effective partnership by supporting and enforcing the Fiscal Policies of the Federal Government in terms of Trade, while reiterating his commitment to reward compliant declarants and to sanction non-compliant declarants.