Spectacular feat :  Customs at KLT Command hits N44.4bn revenue collection

Spectacular feat :  Customs at KLT Command hits N44.4bn revenue collection

… brings in 3 new terminals

From left; Swomen giving his welcome address during the  commissioning of Staff Clinic at KLT Command, which culminated in a press conference yesterday  :

The Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command of Nigeria Customs Service has recorded unprecedented feat in revenue collection with a whopping sum of N44.36billion (approximately N44.4billion) realised in 2022 fiscal year.

The N44.4billion revenue collected represents 21 percent increase over N36.69billion generated in 2021.

Most remarkably, this is the first time, KLT Command made such achievement in revenue collection for the Federal Government.

Also, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Hammi Swomen, who has just been promoted to the rank of ACG, through his ingenuity and managerial competence increased the number of Terminals by three. These include Bestaf, Tenzik and Sundial Terminals for Imports and Exports.

Also, it is pertinent to note that through hard work and resilience by Compt Swomen, KLT known to be an off-dock Command depending on sister Commands for transfer of containers, received its first vessel in November 2022.

More so, the CAC also established Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC)/one-stop-shop center for the Command, comprising strategic units to address issues whenever they arise.

Interacting with Journalists during press conference yesterday, Swomen revealed that the Command made nine seizures of 29x40ft and 03x20ft containers with assorted items, worth N737,578,939.00 million in Duty Paid Value (DPV).

His words : “2022 proved to be a challenging year for the Nigerian economy, with attendant adverse effects on Revenue Collection by the Service generally and the Command in particular.

“The year witnessed a sharp decline in the value of National Currency against other international currencies.

“Other negative effects resulted from Russian – Ukraine War, which affected countries around the world with increased inflation on prices of goods and services.

“He went on :  “Other challenges include traffic congestion, dilapidated sections of the road and on-going construction work along Oshodi – Apapa Expressway posing a big hindrance to transfer of containers from the Mother Ports to KLT. The Command relied almost exclusively on transfer by barge.

“Reduction in the volume of cargoes. The Command does not have it’s own premises but operations as a
tenant of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). This has restricted our ability to put in place all structures required in a Customs formation”.

His assertions :  “When I reported at KLT Command in December, 2020, I came with a mandate to plug revenue leakages, enforce extant Import/ Export regulations and facilitate trade for all international trade actors operating in the Command. Others include improved discipline and courtesy amongst Officers and Men of the Command.

“Looking at the period under review, we worked tirelessly to achieve those objectives, even as we ensured harmonious working relationship with other Government/Security Agencies, as well as Stakeholders.
We also established a Staff Clinic for the Command that was
just commissioned by the Zonal Coordinator, ACG A.M
AREMU.”