Customs Generates N1.3trn Revenue, Seizes N62bn Contraband
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Thursday announced a revenue generation of N1.341 trillion in 2019.
The Service in a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, also said it recorded 30,906 seizures of contraband worth N62 billion.
Attah said the revenue figure is N139 billion higher than the figure for the year 2018 which was N1.2 trillion.
He said the target for the year was N969.8 billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Rtd Col. Hameed Ali, was said to have described the revenue figure for last year as a result of resolute pursuit of what is right rather than being populist by compromising national interest on the altar of individual or group interests.
Ali further attributed the high revenue record to “strategic deployment of officers strictly using the standard operating procedure; strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and trade department; automation of the Customs process thereby eliminating vices associated with the manual process; robust stakeholder sensitization resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance; and increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above selves”.
The statement also added that the partial closure of the border was among the reasons for the high revenue.
According to statement, “Before the commencement of the border drill on 20th August 2019, revenue generation was between N4 billion to N5 billion but NCS generates between N5 billion to N7 billion daily.
“The partial border closure is a decisive action against the challenging issue of trans-border crime and criminalities, fueled by the noncompliance to ECOWAS Protocol on transit of goods by neigbhouring countries.
“NCS hopes that the ongoing discussions with our neighbours will yield permanent solution to the challenges of border security.
“The Service wishes to express its readiness to strictly implement the outcome of the ongoing diplomatic engagements.
“In the same vein the Service efforts to prevent the entry of items that could compromise the security of our citizens, national economy and the well being of our people resulted in the seizures of 30,906 assorted items with a duty paid value of N62,134,426,199.00.
“These seizures include arms, ammunitions, illicit drugs, used clothings, vegetable oil, frozen poultry and foreign rice among others that have grave consequences on economy security and well being of Nigerians.
“While we give our assurances of total commitment to the course of nation building, we call on Nigerians, especially the business community to support the NCS on the ongoing drive to robustly contribute to national security and create enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.”
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