Collects N1.29 trillion between January and June 2022.

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

Traditionally and not unexpectedly, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it generated N1.29 trillion between January and June 2022.

NCS spokesman Timi Bomodi said during the period, only 116,691 pre -arrival assessment reports (PAARs) were issued against 129,667 processed in the same period in 2021.

He said, “Between January and June 2022, we have been able to generate N1, 292,904,201,376.89 into the federation account as against the sum of N1,003,540,084,590.16 for the corresponding period in 2021. The amount generated surpassed our achievements of last year by N289,364,116,786.73 or 28.83%. This is even more remarkable given the fact that only 116,691 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) were issued against 129,667 processed in the same period of 2021.

“The sum of N156,315,758,646.18 was also generated into the non-federation account as collections made on behalf of other government agencies.”

Bomodi said various goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N39,174,678,983.00 were seized due to regulatory and policy infringements.

“The top seven items seized are narcotics and other illicit drugs with a DPV of N8,768,311,517.00, followed by foreign parboiled rice with a DPV of N8,251,353,292.00, and illegal imports of dangerous pharmaceuticals with a DPV of N7,630,764,524.00.

“Other items are used clothing with a DPV of N4,051,244,924.00, petroleum products with a DPV of N3,698,181,138.00, textiles and made up fabrics with a DPV of N2,561,361,989.00 and motor vehicles with a DPV of N1,853,084,115.00.

“The DPV value of seizures in the current year exceeds that of seizures made in 2021 by a whopping N34,752,130,003.00,” he said.

Also, Bomodi said the Anti-Money Laundering Unit (AML) of the Service made seizures of $339,800 USD, £12,000 POUNDS, 3,013,500 RYD, 20,005 CFA, and 133 ATM cards.

“Seven persons were arrested in violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution,” he said.

As the collection continues from July to December 2022, Nigerians, who are the buyers of imported items from which Customs collects duty (revenue) are paying and praying that Nigeria imports less, pay less and praying more that importation is reduced by Nigeria becoming industrialized,  self sufficient and save the naira from its downward slide as the country painfully pays for everything imported in billions of dollars annually.