Tincan Customs rakes in N62bn …Renews strategies to meet N354bn target
Tincan Customs rakes in N62bn
.Renews strategies to meet N354bn target
By Udeme Clement & Silas Onuoha

Revenue Generation:
The Tincan Island Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS, has generated a huge sum of N62billion in the months of January and February 2018. The Command has also stepped up its operational strategies to meet its revenue target of N354billion for the year.
The Customs Area Controller ,CAC, of Tincan Command, Comptroller Mohammed Abdullahi Baba Musa, disclosed this on the occasion of his inaugural breakfast meeting with maritime Journalists in Lagos, stressed that Tincan Command shall block all revenue leakages, in order to collect appropriate duties to meet its target.
TRADE FACILITATION/ EASE OF DOING BUSINESS:
Speaking on trade facilitation, the CAC said, “We are committed to promoting economic growth, competitiveness through ‘Trade Facilitation and Ease of Doing Business Initiative of the Federal Government’. We will actualise this by making Customs procedures more efficient, to enable lower transaction cost for business to enhance competitiveness in economic productivity and growth to improve the standard of living in the Country. We are to provide coordinating role on Ease of Doing Business Initiative”.

TIME RELEASE STUDY/48HOURS CARGO CLEARANCE:
On 48 hours cargo clearance, Comptroller Musa stated further, “As part of trade facilitation, we are aware of the 48 hours cargo clearance time. In that capacity, we have deployed the ‘Time Release Study’ as performance indicator to guide our operations. Also, we are deploying a software to handle the remaining part of the export procedures. This will enable records of none oil export, agriculture and other items”.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
Responding to question on ‘Dispute Resolution Committee’ ,DRC, the Tincan CAC explained, “Prior to this time, the DRC was meeting twice a week to deliberate on conflicts arising from Valuation, Classification and PAAR. However, on assumption and as a pointer to our renewed enthusiasm for Trade Facilitation, I directed that all issues arising from disputes must be attended to with dispatch. In view of this, the DRC has been directed to sit on daily basis for immediate resolution of issues”. HELP DESK
On the ‘Help Desk’ of the Command, the CAC informed, “We have re-engineered our help desk, making it more responsive and domicile at the office of the Public Relations Officer ,PRO, all in effort to fast track procedures”.
DEPLOYMENT OF NICIS II:
He said, “NICIS II is an upgrade of NICIS I with more efficient and functional capabilities to ensure immediate cargo clearance, thereby reducing transaction cost. Stakeholders and officers are already undergoing training for the ease of implementation and migration”.
SECURITY:
He went on, “Environment and Social protection including National Security contribute in the fight against terrorism, therefore interception of illicit, dangerous, unsafe and counterfeit goods are important areas we are equally giving serious attention”.
CAPACITY BUILDING
The CAC added, “To serve you better, we shall continue to build capacity in all core Customs Areas of classification, Valuation, Risk and Data Management. We shall collaborate with other Stakeholders in some other areas”.
THE ROLE OF MEDIA IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Deliberating on the role of media in national development, Comptroller Musa, pointed out, “It is pertinent to note that the Media all over world plays a critical role in national development. Therefore, the role of the Media cannot be overemphasized. It is on this basis that we are meeting now to seek ways of strengthening the existing relationship, in order to work collaboratively in promoting national development. As we go about achieving these objectives, our doors are opened for contributions and collaboration”.