Tincan Port Command begins 2020 with agenda setting meetings .Tasks officers on trade facilitation, ease of doing business

Tincan Port Command begins 2020 with agenda setting meetings

.Tasks officers on trade facilitation, ease of doing business

By Udeme Clement

The Tincan Island Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, is poised for greater productivity in 2020 economic year, as the Command began its activities with agenda setting meetings and consultations with critical stakeholders in the maritime industry.

The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Command, Mr Uche Ejesieme disclosed this in a chat with reporters in Lagos.

He explained that the agenda setting meetings are part of the proactive measures put in place by the Customs Area Controller, CAC, of Tincan Command, Comptroller MBA Musa, to sustain remarkable achievements recorded by the Command in 2019.

He informed, “The CAC began this year with series of meetings where all cadres of officers were part of. The first meeting had in attendance all officers in charge of the terminals, examination, releasing officers, middle-cadre officers, whose schedules are key to the actualisation of our mandates.

“During the meeting, Comptroller Musa reflected on the feats of Tincan Port in 2019, as he highlighted that the Command realised over N346.5billion revenue collection last year, seizures with Duty Paid Value, DPV, of more than N5.9billion and exports with FOB value of N130.2billion.  Most remarkably, we exceeded our revenue target by N4billion”.

Responding to question on importance of the agenda setting meetings, he pointed out, “The essence of this overview is to put officers on their toes, so as not to relax with the euphoria of these achievements”.

He stressed, “The meeting also focused on issues pertaining to how we must achieve greater results in 2020. This is quite imperative because Comptroller Musa is concerned about attitudinal change and professionalism at all times.

“The CAC is interested in thorough examination of cargoes, timeliness of operations and reward for compliance. He wants to see more teamwork between resident officers and other specialised Units in the Command. There should be operational synergy within these Units on the clearing chain to enhance trade facilitation.

“The concept of Customs-7Cs must be applied in examination and other procedures in the Command. To the CAC, there must be zero tolerance to any form of infraction.”

Mr Ejesieme revealed, “Comptroller Musa is also working at developing internal course curriculum to train officers on core aspects of Customs operations. During the meeting, he reminded officers of the fact that Customs will soon achieve full automation.  As such, they must improve their skills in Information Communications Technology, ICT, in order to be relevant in the scheme of things”.

His assertions, “Tincan Command is blessed with competent officers, who will always be available to impact knowledge, to sharpen their skills for the challenges ahead.  The challenges are enormous but surmountable.

“The CAC wants officers to be committed, in order to realise any target that the Command will be given in 2020.

“Achieving it is a must and not an option. That was why he prepared their minds to identify all areas of revenue gaps and close them effectively.

“Therefore, the essence of agenda setting meeting is to avoid complacency. We must remain proactive, creative, committed without compromising the Federal Government’s directive on ease of doing business”.