Set to Deploy Scanners in Ports/Border stations

Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), Comptroller General, NCS

Notwithstanding the issues and challenges of 2020, Apapa gridlock and its economic impact, the Nigeria Customs Service made a total collection of N1,562,115,419,216.32-surpassing it’s target of N1,380,765,353,462.00 for last year and rising above the N1,342,006,918,504.55 that was collected in 2019

Spokesman for the service, Joseph Attah, who disclosed this in a press statement described the feat as commendable despite the covid-19 pandemic. The Deputy Comptroller of Customs said the Comptroller General of Customs lauded the feat as a result of doing what is right in line with the service mandate.

He also attributed the achievement to the partial border closure which lasted between August 20, 2019 and later part of December 2020. According to him some goods that should have come into the country through smuggling were legitimately imported through the country’s ports.

He disclosed further that the service operations in 2021 will be boosted with seven new scanners. According to him , the Federal Ministry of Finance has purchased three while the Central Bank of Nigeria has indicated interest to procure additional four units

Commenting on this feat, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col, Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) described it as a result of resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by covid-19.

The service revenue generation profile has continued to be on the rise annually as the ongoing reforms in the Service insist on:

*Strategic deployment of officers strictly using the standard operating procedure.
*Strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and trade department.
*Automation of the Customs process thereby eliminating vices associated with the manual process.
*Robust stakeholder sensitization resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance.
*Increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above selves.

“The partial border closure which has forced cargoes that could have been smuggled through the porous borders to come through the sea and airports raised revenue collection from ports.

“Before the commencement of the border drill on 20th August 2019, revenue generation was between N4 billion to N5 billion but now NCS generate between N5 billion to N9 billion daily.

“Diplomatic engagements that took place during the partial land border closure yielded many positive results, including commitment to comply with the ECOWAS Protocol on Transit. Operationalization of joint border patrols at both sides of the border.

“The teams are required to share intelligence and ensure prevention of transit of prohibited goods into the neighbor’s territory. Accordingly Service wishes to express its readiness to strictly implement the outcome of the diplomatic engagements as the land borders open for movement of cargoes.

“Intelligence gathered during the period and the introduction of the e-Customs whose components include installation of scanners at all entry points will enhance border security and boost national trade facilitation.

“Already Ministry of Finance has purchased three (3) new Scanners. Interestingly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also expressed commitment to purchasing four (4) Scanners and establish the control center for monitoring all scanning sites in their bid to boost national economy, especially agricultural sector.

This means that within the next six (6) months, NCS will have about seven (7) functional Scanners to be mounted at strategic entry points even before the full deployment of e-Customs components which will see to the deployment of 135 modern Scanners.

“NCS appreciates and commends the leadership of CBN for this strategic intervention in the interest of the nation.
In the same vein, the Service efforts to prevent the entry of items that could compromise the Security of our citizens, Economy and the well being of our people resulted in the seizures of 4,304 assorted items with a duty paid value of N28,287,285,847.52.

“These seizures include arms, ammunitions, illicit drugs, used clothing, vegetable oil, frozen poultry and foreign rice among others that have grave consequences on economy security and well being of Nigerians.

While we give assurances of total commitment to the course of protecting national security and economy, we call on Nigerians, especially the business community to support the NCS as our borders open to African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in order to benefit from the trade agreement and other cross border activities” Attah wrote in the statement