Targets Two Hour Clearance Time for Vehicles

The Port Terminal Multiservices Limited, PTML Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has collected N66,920,181,586.30 as total revenue for first quarter of 2024 which is N22,198,965,809.55 higher than N44,721,215,776.75 collected between January and March 2023 representing 49.6 percent increase.

The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Command, Chief Supritendent of Customs, CSC, Muhammad Yakubu disclosed in a statement made available to Maritime Nigeria

According to the PRO, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Saidu Abba Yusuf, who described the increase in revenue collection as a laudable feat , said the command is more committed towards trade facilitation and support government drive for ease of doing business.

The statement said the CAC thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR for initiating strategies to achieve faster cargo clearance , reiterated that PTML Command under his watch aims to surpass its record of three hour cargo clearance for compliant traders.

“The launching of Time Release Study (TRS) which is ongoing and other deliberate efforts by the Comptroller General have contributed in the expansion of terminal space and promoting ease of doing business in PTML” the CAC said

The CAC also disclosed that the PTML command has potentials to achieve two hour cargo clearance and surpass it’s existing three hours record if port users compliance level is improved upon

“As one of the safest and most secure environment for RoRo(Roll On Roll Off) and general cargoes, importers and their agents should take advantage of the incentives available for compliant traders such as fast track, advance ruling and possible migration to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status” Compt. Yusuf said

The CAC  reminded port users in PTML of the robust and time conscious dispute resolution mechanism, which has contributed immensely to the revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti smuggling functions of the command.

While commending the various government and private sector stakeholders for their cooperation and support towards realisation of government goal of revenue collection and prevention of unlawful activities, the CAC expressed optimism that the command will surpass it’s annual target for the year.

“The importation of vehicles meant for Nigerian roads into neighboring countries with intent to smuggle them through unapproved roads into Nigeria is unpatriotic and an act of economic sabotage. PTML  has the capacity for seamless and efficient processing of such automobile cargoes” Comptroller Saidu Abba Yusuf declared

While informing port users that there is increased anti smuggling vigilance to uncover concealments such as under declaration and smuggling of prohibited items, the CACemphasisd that any discovered infraction will lead to full evoking of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA), where there are spelt-out penalties.

The CAC charged officers of the command to maximally deploy available technology and rededicate themselves to the job to achieve more as the Command sail into the second quarter and half year period.