The Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has collected about N971million in the first quarter of this year as against the N284,561 ,1 25.94 which it garnered into customs coffers in the corresponding period of 2009. This shows a difference of about N686million or about 241 per cent over the collection of January o March, 2009.
In March, 2010 alone, a total of N 413,804,549.90 was collected as against the N188, 842,494.77 which was collected in the corresponding month of 2009. Similarly, the command raked-in about N296million in January 2010 and N260million in the month of February 2010 as against the N 13million and about N82million in the month of January and February, 2009 respectively.
Expressing optimism that that the command is on course to meeting its 2010 target set by Customs Headquarters, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Usman Kankara Bello, commended officers and men of the Command, who according to him, contributed immensely to the achievement and urged them not to rest on their oars until the 2010 target is achieved and surpassed.
The CAC also called on Customs Licensed Agents, operating in the Command to always ensure due process in the processing of documents for the clearing of their goods in the Command, even as he advised them to ensure that documents, such as Form ‘M’ and Risk Assessment Report (RAR) are always processed in good time before the arrival of their consignment.
He said adhering to the advice will facilitate speedy clearance of their goods and also avoid unnecessary delay, which will lead to payment of high demurrage to airliners and cargo operators, noting that some of the goods are essential and urgent in nature that is why they are air freighted. It should be noted that, payment of high demurrage on imported consignment add to inflation on such goods.
Furthermore, Compt Bello urged the Customs Licensed Agents to always educate their importers on the need to open Form ‘M’ in any of the authorized banks, because it is a prerequisite for all importations into the country. They should also process the Risk Assessment Report (RAR) with COTECNA service providers whose office is situated at the Cargo Section Abuja International Airport.
It would be recalled that, Compt. Bello met and surpassed the 2009 target set for him when he held sway as the Customs Area Controller Kano/Jigawa Area Command.
He also called on airline operators in FCT Command to submit their cargo manifest electronically, through the ASYUCUDA ++ platform as required by the new customs policy, which is geared towards trade facilitation, speedy clearance of goods and blockage of revenue leakages, stressing that he will enforce the law on any defaulting airline operator.
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