The Col. Hameed Ali (retired) led Nigeria Customs Service has been lauded for its improved revenue generation drive and implementation of the country’s inspection regime.

The commendation was made by members of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) while on an oversight visit to the Tin Can Island Port Customs Command, this week Tuesday. Head of the delegation, Dr. Casmir Anyanwu said the primary objective of the committee oversight job is to examine the Federation Account performances across board, in the three tiers of Government with a view to ensuring that all accruable revenue to the Federal Government Coffers are duly accounted for.

This is even as he disclosed that their visit had the mandate of the CGC to ascertain their strength, weaknesses and challenges with a view to appropriately advising the Federal Government on their findings. Anyanwu said that but for the present patriotic and service orientated customs leadership, the cache of arms apprehended since first quarter of the year, would have leaked through and worsened the security situation of the country.

The TCIP Customs Area Controller, Compt. Bashar Yusuf has in his welcome address disclosed that the command collected a total of two hundred and Sixty Two Billion, Three Hundred And Sixty-Seven Million, Eight Hundred And Five Thousand, Nine Hundred andThirty-Eight Naira, Fifty-Five Kobo (N262,367,805,938.55) between January and November, this year. The committee described Tincan Port as a major gateway to the resources of the country and therefore very key to the Nigerian Project, noting that in the absence of a credible leadership, revenue figures being churned out in the past one year would have been difficult; and enjoined Bashar not to relent in his efforts.

Bashar expressed appreciation with the visit and stated that the timing was apt considering the fact that the country is gradually sliding out of recession, and assured that the command and indeed the service under Ali has no option but to sustain the tempo.

It is instructive to note that the revenue figure above represent a significant increase from the N233.5billion generated in 2016. He informed that the Command have made significant and steady progress in the areas of her core functions in the past eighteen (18) months; even as he briefed the committee of the various reforms he instituted shortly after assumption of duty, which included but not limited to the construction of a training facility with thirty (30) workstations to take care of the training needs of not just the officers but also other critical stakeholders.

Recall that since the reforms initiatives which included trainings and regular dialogue on issues of compliance and target setting set the stage for the prevailing successes across various fronts. This has manifested in the increased figures of revenue generated over the period and the level of compliance by traders with regards to the fiscal policies.

It was a proud Basahr who informed the committee that “we recorded remarkable seizures of cocaine with a street value of over N2billion according to report from NDLEA, handed over stolen exotic SUV’S to Interpol Nigeria for onward repatriation to USA, seizure of cache of arms (pump action riffles totaling 2,010 which eventually necessitated the recent visit of Mr. President to Turkey with other top government officials to see ways of curbing the menace”.

During discussions, Bashar suggested that infrastructural upgrade (Road Networks to the Port), scanners and other equipment will enhance the output of the service.
Adding that the command will not lower it’s guards in all aspects of her statutory functions.