Customs rakes in N1.2trillion …Records N164.8 bn revenue increase …N61.5bn seizures

Customs rakes in N1.2trillion

.Records N164.8 bn revenue increase

. N61.5bn seizures

By Udeme Clement

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has recorded outstanding performance in revenue generation, as the Service raked in N1.2 trillion for 2018 fiscal year.

The Service also recorded 5,235 seizures with Duty Paid Value, DPV, of N61.5 billion within the same period under review.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller, DC Joseph Attah, disclosed this, pointed out that the stride was achieved due to NCS reinvigorated anti-smuggling operations under the supervision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Ali Hameed.

DC Attah said, “What the Service realised in 2018 was N164.8 billion greater than the revenue generated in 2017 fiscal year, which was N1.037 trillion”.

He pointed out, “These seizures include arms, ammunition, more than 59 containers of Tramadol and other controlled drugs, as well as 320,709 bags of foreign rice”.

Attah quoted CGC Ali, in his statement, “The historic feat was due to dogged pursuit of what was right, rather than being populist by compromising national interest on the altar of individual or group interest.

“The increase in annual revenue generation by NCS in the last three years was as a result of reforms being carried out by the Service.

“For example, the reforms included upgrading the electronic platform from Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System, NICIS I, to NICIS II, which blocked revenue leakages in the system; strict enforcement of extant guidelines by Tariff and Trade Department; effective stakeholder engagement, which paved the way for increase in compliance and increased disposition of Officers/Men to put national interest above selves.

“Though smuggling remains a challenge, the Service’s three layers security strategy continues to make smuggling unattractive to the smugglers.

“As NCS continues to deal decisively with smugglers, fellow citizens, especially border dwellers and port users are advised to support NCS, by reporting smuggling activities to the nearest Customs formation”.

He enthused, “Together we can protect our economy by joining hands to fight the menace of smugglers, to ensure that appropriate Customs duty is paid on every dutiable import”.

He commended “We appreciate compliant stakeholders who supported the Service throughout 2018.

“We are calling on all Nigerians, especially international trade actors to help make 2019 better for our nation.”