Customs collects N1.2tn, records N61bn seizures in 2018

Harboursandport.com: Lagos --- The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has said that it has raked in N1.2 trillion as at December 31, 2018.

Comptroller-General of Customs,
Col. HAmmed Ali (rtd)

It also said that it recorded 5,235 contraband seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N61billion during the same period under review.

The revenue collection for this year is N164 billion higher than that of 2017 which was N1,037 trillion.

Joseph Attah, Public Relations Officer of Customs in a statement, noted that the

Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), stated that the feat was achieved as a result of dogged pursuit of what was right, rather than sacrificing national interest to satisfy the selfish desires of some influential but unpatriotic Nigerians.

Attah added that the increasing annual revenue generation from the Service in the last three years was as a result of various reforms like the upgrade of the electronic systems from Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System I (NICIS I) to NICIS II which has blocked leakages.

“Another is the strategic deployment of manpower, strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and trade department, robust stakeholder engagement resulting in increased compliance and increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above selves”, he added.

On the anti-smuggling front, Attah said seizures made include arms, ammunitions, over 59 containers of Tramadol and other controlled drugs and 320,709 bags of foreign rice etc.

The Customs spokesman maintained that the Service operated within its three-layer security strategy in its efforts to make smuggling unattractive to potential culprits.

“While the Service continues to deal decisively with smugglers, fellow citizens, especially border dwellers and port users are advised to support NCS by reporting any smuggling activity to the nearest Customs formation. Together we can protect our economy and security by joining hands to fight smuggling and to ensure that appropriate customs duty is paid on every dutiable import”, Attah stated.

While appreciating compliant stakeholders that have supported the Service in 2018, he called on all Nigerians, especially international trade actors, to help make 2019 better for the nation.