Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Federal Government has set a revenue target of N4.1 trillion for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for 2022.
This was made known on Thursday by the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta Ibrahim while briefing news men.
He stated that although the service is yet to divide the revenue target to various commands, he however said the Apapa Area Command has already braced-up towards realization of the revenue target by leveraging on the deployment of digital transformation of Customs business processes
He said this will further take care of many control mechanisms through its risk management system. The transformation, he said will further harmonize the activities of stakeholders toward a seamless ease of doing business in the port.
Giving an insight into how much revenue the command collected in 2021, Malanta disclosed that in spite of the enormous challenges faced in the trade supply chain; occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic and the high cost of freight, incessant traffic gridlock, rail construction through the port, the Command in 2021, was able to collect a revenue of about N870.3 billion which was remitted to the federation and non-federation accounts of the Federal Government, respectively.
On Anti-Smuggling, the CAC informed that in line with the provision of extant circulars; trade guidelines and enforcement of government fiscal policy measures, the command worked against economic saboteurs through credible intelligence driven operations and continuous partnering with other relevant agencies.
He informed that the command made a total of 103 seizures with Duty Paid Value of N31,227,431,225.00.
On export, the Comptroller informed that in the year under review, the command recorded a boom in the exportation of non-oil commodities with about 110% increase in tonnage above the figure of the year 2020.
He said statistics from the export unit shows that goods with a total tonnage of about 5.38Million metric tons were exported in the year 2021, as against 1.3Million metric tons exported in 2020.
He said the Free on Board (FOB) value for the exported items also rose from $340 million in the year 2020 to $641 million US dollars in 2021 noting that the naira equivalent of the exported goods stood at over N245 billion naira.
He listed items exported in year 2021 through the command to include steel bars, agricultural and mineral products, among others.
This according to him, was achieved through the Federal government policy and export incentives schemes occasioned by the service facilitation and automation of NXP and CCI.
He said:”The year 2022 is a year of hope and high expectations, particularly with increase in the service revenue target to N4.1 trillion naira.
“For us in Apapa Area Command, we have already boarded and fastened our seat towards the realization of this revenue target
“We hope that the service will surely leverage on the deployment of digital transformation of Customs business processes which will further take care of many control mechanisms through its risk management system. This transformation will further harmonize the activities of our stakeholders toward a seamless ease of doing business in the port.
“In spite of the enormous challenges faced in the trade supply chain; occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic still ravaging economies around the world, high cost of freight, incessant traffic gridlock, rail construction through the port, as well as ensuring increase in compliance level from stakeholders, the Command between the months of January to December 2021 was able to collect a revenue of Eight hundred and seventy billion, three hundred and eighty-eight million, three hundred and Forty thousand, six hundred and fifty naira and sixty-five kobo (N870,388,340,650.65) and remitted to the federation and non-federation accounts of the Federal Government, respectively. This clearly shows that the revenue profile of the command has significantly increased by about 68% when compared with the collection of 518.4 billion in the year 2020. We are determined to do more and surpass our revenue target for the year 2022, by God’s grace.
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“Accordingly, the command made a total of 103 seizures with Duty Paid Value of Thirty-one billion, Two hundred and twenty-seven million, Four hundred and thirty-one thousand, Two hundred and twenty-five naira (N31,227,431,225.00). Worthy of mention here is the seizure of 46.55 kg of cocaine concealed on vessels Mv Karteria and MV Chayanee Naree laden with raw sugar.
“Some of the seized items include containers of foreign parboiled rice, tomato paste, secondhand clothes, unregistered pharmaceuticals like captagon pills, tramadol, codeine syrup, etc. These were seizures made in accordance with provision sections 46, 47 and 161 of CEMA (Customs and Excise Management act) CAP C45 LFN 2004. These seizures are condemned by a competent court of law and the suspects are still undergoing investigation and interrogation.
“It is instructive to note that these unprecedented achievements were made possible because of our officers/men doggedness and tireless commitment to their duties. Nonetheless, we have diligently strengthened our risk assessment capacity through forensic system audit and dispute resolution procedures in accordance with World Customs Organization (WCO) standard. Trade disputes were amicably resolved in an atmosphere that promoted compliance with visible results in higher revenue, indicating lesser cost of doing business and seizures.
“The command has achieved a robust industrial harmony with all government agencies in Apapa port, especially our host, the NPA, other sister agencies (the DSS, NAFDAC, NDLEA, SON, Port Police), as well as shipping lines and terminal operators whose tremendous contribution has been a great success in the outgone year. We look forward for a strengthened collaboration and synergy in this prosperous and glorious new year 2022” he said.
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