Tin-can Customs Collects N117.8bn In 4 Months

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Despite the global pandemic which has posed a great challenge to trade facilitation, the Tin-can Island Port Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS has collected a total of N117.8 billion between January and April this year into the government account.

The figure shows an increase of N11. 1 billion above the N106.6 billion collected in the same period in 2019.

Public Relations Officer, of the Command, Uche Ejeseime attributed the achievement to the deployment “time-release study tool” for strategic planning in determining the actual time required for the release and clearance of goods, right from the time of arrival to physical release from Customs control.

Ejesieme said that the deployment of the time-release study tool helps in facilitating trade at the Command.

The Command’s spokesman noted that the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Ahmed Musa Baba in a chat with some Stakeholders in his office recently said that the above measures helped in achieving the success in revenue collected during the period under review.

According to him, “The CAC recalled that Time Release Study, TRS, is a strategic tool that is capable of identifying bottlenecks in the trade Value Chain and creating an enabling environment for effectiveness and efficiency in Operations.

“The Comptroller reiterated the readiness of the Command to ensure adherence and compliance with the extant protocols by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and World Health Organization, WHO, towards containing the spread of the virus.  He disclosed that prior to the declaration of the Virus as a Pandemic Disease, the Command had conducted series of Seminars and awareness campaign, targeted at sensitizing the officers/men as well as Stakeholders on measures to adopt in dealing with the menace.  These measures according to the CAC would be sustained even after the Post Covid-19 era. 

“Even at the onset of this Pandemic when pressure, anxiety and general apprehension was the order of the day, the Command demonstrated resilience, sagacity and compassion in its approach to the novel Pandemic, such that tension was reduced from the psyche of the operatives with confidence inspired that enabled them to attend to their functions without let or hindrance”.

“With this Pandemic, the Command will upscale her sensitization on the need for Nigerians to fully take advantage of the operations in Export Trade, especially at this moment when it has become compelling for diversification of the Economy for National Development”.

“We use this medium to remind Nigerians to seize the opportunity of the numerous incentives by the Federal Government in the area of Export, to draw and attract the consciousness of Nigerians to the advantages in Export Trade”.

With the Time Release Studies Tool, we have generated statistical data on the actual time declarations were made up till the time of Release from Customs Control.  It is on the basis of this, that the Command realized that the Nigeria Customs Service is only involved in two major functions in the Trade Value Chain (Examination and Release of Cargo) from Customs Control.  The unwavering commitment of the Command necessitated the need to work assiduously towards ensuring that all operational bottlenecks are removed from the Value Chain, for effectiveness and efficiency in accordance with Global Standards.

The Command will continue to support and encourage the culture of compliance with Fiscal and Monetary Policies, while also rewarding compliant traders.  We have developed a framework and different layers for channelling of official complaints, including the Help Desk for speedy Resolution of Trade Disputes.

Efforts are also being made to ensure continuous “Stakeholder Engagement” and collaboration for the actualizations of the joint responsibilities of creating a friendly business environment that will encourage trade and investments as well as boost the morale of Stakeholders.

Speaking further, the CAC noted that in spite of the few challenges mitigating against the performance, he pointed out that the Command will not let its guards down in the pursuance of its official mandate.

He appreciated the support and counsel from the Customs Management led by Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and his Management, while also applauding the renewed enthusiasm of the officers/men which is evidenced in the operational profile of the Command.