As Compt. Dera Nnadi mni Beat Target by 139%

The Tin Can Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has recorded a total  revenue collection of Three Hundred and Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Forty-Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Naira and Forty Seven Kobo (₦303,937,547,265.47) in the first quarter of 2024.

This is against One Hundred and Twenty Six Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Eight Million, One Hundred and Eighty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty One Naira Thirty One Kobo (₦126,858,189,231.31) recorded in the same period of 2023.

A statement signed by Superintendent of Customs, SC, Nkozi Okwara, Public Relations Officer     of the Command,  disclosed that the Command surpassed its first Quarter Revenue Target for 2024 by one hundred and thirty nine percent (139%) with a difference of One Hundred and Seventy Seven Billion, Seventy-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Thirty five Naira, Thirty-Six Kobo (₦177,079,358,035.36), when compared to the same period of the year 2023.

The statement gave a detailed breakdown of Q1 operations of the Command thus:

Revenue Generated For Q1, 2024

The command collected a total of Eighty Eight Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty Million, One Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty two Naira, Seventy-Two Kobo only (₦88,430,126,122.72) in the month of January 2024 this indicates a 107.9% upscale from the revenue collected for same period of January 2023; Forty-two Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Three Hundred And Thirty-Six Thousand, Thirty-Eight Naira, Eleven Kobo (₦42,536,336,038.11)

In the month of February 2024, the command generated One Hundred Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira, Seventy-One Kobo only (₦100,399,354,887.71), this is 141.8% higher than the value collected in the same period in 2023 which is Forty-One Billion, Five Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira and Nine Kobo (₦41,518,738,649.09).

In the month of March 2024, the Command recorded the sun of One Hundred and Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Eight Million, Sixty Six thousand, Two hundred and Fifty Six Naira, Twenty Kobo only (₦115,108,066,256.20) as against the Forty two Billion, Eight Hundred and Three Million, One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Four Naira and Eleven Kobo (₦42,803,114,544.11) collected for March 30 2023; this is 163.9% increase.

Enforcement And Anti-Smuggling Activities

The Command’s Enforcement and Anti-Smuggling Unit has not relented in its effort to combat smuggling and all forms of criminality. Customs being the lead Agency at the Ports through its Enforcement Unit has coordinated several 100% physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with Critical Stakeholders to ensure that the command is freed of any form of non-compliance in line with the International trade cycle.

A total of 57 packets of Heroine weighing 56.390kg with a street value of (₦902, 240,000.00); 3612 packets of Colorado Indica weighing 956.772kg with a street value of (₦4,055,400,000.00). All the seized illicit drugs have been handed over to the relevant sister agencies as directed by the service

Stakeholders Activities

The Area Command has in the past few months hosted different sections of stakeholders’ forum (Shipping Companies; Terminal Operators; Freight Forwarders and Security Agencies etc), physically and virtually on modalities to automate communication channel to minimize revenue loss and boost rules of engagement.

Time Release Study, TRS

“I have the honour to inform you that irrespective of the challenges observed, the Area Command has not relented on its efforts to ensure that the aim is achieved. The TRS as a Customs Process aims to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within Customs Operations by assessing the time it takes for goods to be released from terminals within the port premises. This will be unveiled with time, as progress is being made” the CAC said

The Establishment Of New Terminals At Tcip.

In her effort to create a level playing field for importers and stakeholders by decongests the Ports, the Command encouraged stakeholders’ approach for the establishment of new terminals. Activities have long commenced at the terminals, respectively.

Export

In terms of Volume (mT) and value (FOB), export trade recorded exponential growth within the same period under review. Comparatively, tonnage of goods exported via TCIP increased from 145,906.33 mT in 2023 to 251,679.89 mT in 2024 and represents an increase of 95.3%. Also, there is an over 300% increase in the FOB value of the exports from Eighty Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Three Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N80,993,580,710) to Two Hundred and Eighty -Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two Million,Seven Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifteen Naira (N287,792,767,415.00) of Q1 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Exports from the Command includes essentially Agricultural and other allied products, namely; Coca-Butter, Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nuts etc

Acknowledgement/Appreciation

We continue to express our profound appreciation for the support and clear sense of direction from the Comptroller General of Customs, BA Adeniyi MFR and his management team for their relentless and continuous efforts towards strengthening the capacity of the Service and introducing innovative methods to perform its statutory responsibilities in line with international best practices.

The Area Command will continue to put in more efforts towards better performance. We are optimistic that with the content of digitalization of all Customs processes and procedures based on the modernization agenda of the Service we will achieve more in our responsibilities.

The CAC reminded the officers that stakeholders should be held in high esteem and treated with respect but with due diligence to identify compliant and non-compliant traders.