Tin Can Customs Collects N397billion in 2018, Charges Port Users on Voluntary Compliance

By ZION Olalekan

The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said that it collected a whooping N397billion as total revenue in 2018. This is even as the command has tasked customs brokers on the need to ensure voluntary compliance to Customs laid down procedures in cargo clearance.

Addressing Licensed Customs Agents in Lagos recently, Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement Tin Can Port, Mr. Dera Nnadi gave the charge even as he commended the agents on the role played to assist the customs in realising the huge target.

Nnadi said the command is yet to receive it’s target for year 2019, he however tasked the agents who are members of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Tin Can Chapter to adhere to laid down rules and regulations.

While commending the clearing agents, he said “We wouldn’t have collected this money without you people, it is through your efforts and we congratulate you for the corporation you have given us so far, we look forward to dealing with you people better this year”

“Since 2015 when Ali came in, we have collected N4.0trillion, it is unprecedented in the history of the entire custom service. Such feat wouldn’t have been achieved without the corporation of agents”

“We wish to request that you encourage your members to be 100% compliant, as DC enforcement, I don’t like forcing people to do the right thing, so I would say that for this year 2019 our theme should be voluntary compliance”

“On your own, please do the right thing without being forced”

Responding, a board member of ANLCA present at the ceremony, Mr. Dayo Azeez has called on the customs service to come up with a uniformed value on vehicles. He appealed to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali to publish an ex factory price of vehicles.

Dayo Azeez said that “We want an ex factory price of vehicles, we don’t want a situation whereby Customs would be looking under the table to give to us”

“As it is, when an agent gives 200 thousand as surface price of vehicle another gives 250, the non availability of unified wxfactory price is even hindering our agency fee”

“On every imported vehicles we should know how much we are collecting and the importer should know how much he is paying”