Tin Can Customs expresses optimism to surpass 2018 revenue target

By ZION Olalekan

The Tin Can command of the Nigeria Customs Service has expressed optimism to surpass its revenue of N354 billion in 2018.

The command has equally read the riot act to non-compliant importers who usually wait for end of the year rush hour to import illicit trades to beware, saying that the command is leaving no stone unturned.

Public Relations Officer of the Tin Can Island Command of Customs, Mr Uche Ejesieme in a chat with our correspondent stated that the command may surpass its revenue of N354 billion in 2018

On the aspect of security, Uche also assured that the command has put several measures in place to check importation of arms and ammunition especially as the election year approaches.

According to him, the command has redoubled its efforts, especially as it now carries out 100% examination of cargoes at the terminals, coupled with cargo profiling to check out some cargoes that are suspicious.

Tin Can command is the second highest revenue generating command for the Nigeria Customs Service next to the Apapa Area 1 command.

Uche told our correspondent that the command is optimistic that volume of trade will increase in the last quarter of the year 2018, and this would shore up the command’s revenue.

He also dismissed apprehension that some importers may abandon importation of cargoes due to the political uncertainties surrounding the upcoming 2019 general elections.

“I am assuring you that elections or no elections, towards the twilight of the year, volume of trade will always come up, particularly during Christmas, it is natural for volume of trade to go high from now till end of the year, and we are not expecting anything less, this is why we are confident that we are likely going to meet or surpass our target for this year and we are still expecting a higher cargo volume during Christmas. I don’t think election is going to affect.

“I am sure that you know that Tin can island port just like every other ports around us have become a no-go-area for illicit trades, last year and two years ago, they tried it but we impounded everything they brought, following from that, we have been able to redouble our efforts, now that the terminals are carrying out 100% examination of cargoes.

“We do cargo profiling to check out some cargoes that we believe are suspicious, we go on the system to profile the importer, to know exactly the status of the importer, to know exactly what he uses the cargo for, and how has he been transacting with Customs for the past two years, we get all these facts before we decide whether to probe further or not.

“We have actually redoubled our efforts, if you go to the terminals, the issue of armchair examination of cargoes is not possible again, it has become an history, particularly following some of these remarkable seizures we made in the past, I am sure that these criminal elements would not find tin can island a good place for such transactions.

“We are on our toes, we are not leaving any stone unturned, every now and then we hold meetings with our examination officers and releasing officers at the terminals on the need for them to redouble their efforts” he said.

Uche also explained that what has majorly helped the command is the technical know-how of the Area Controller, Compt Musa Baba Abdullahi and his supervising officers.

He described the Comptroller as an ICT man that is well grounded on the job, and that once he sees anything untoward, he would flag it and direct the appropriate officer to look into it.

“Once the controller sees any declaration, he is very good at classification and valuation, risk management, cargo selectivity and so on, mere looking at a declaration, he will tell you the position of the cargo, if it is wrong HS code, low value and so on”.