The Lagos Industrial Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N2.66 billion revenue in the first quarter, the Area Controller, Mrs Nkem Nzeribe has said .
Nzeribe also said in Lagos yesterday that the figure was N17 million lower than the N2.83 billion generated in the first quarter of 2012.
According to her, the government’s fiscal policy that de-excised so many hitherto duty-paying factories and left only alcohol producing factories narrowed the revenue base of the command.
The Lagos Industrial Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N2.66 billion revenue in the first quarter, the Area Controller, Mrs Nkem Nzeribe has said .
Nzeribe also said in Lagos yesterday that the figure was N17 million lower than the N2.83 billion generated in the first quarter of 2012.
According to her, the government’s fiscal policy that de-excised so many hitherto duty-paying factories and left only alcohol producing factories narrowed the revenue base of the command.
“Also, the current insecurity problem in some parts of the country has led to the reduction in demand and sales by traders,” she disclosed.
She said that out of the N2.66 billion revenue, N1.08 billion was generated in January, N893 million in February, while N686 million was generated in March.
The command generated N10.6 billion in 2012 against N10 billion generated in 2011.
She said that lack of some raw materials, especially ethanol, was hindering production by medium-scale breweries and this led to reduction in accruable revenue of the service.
Nzeribe urged the Federal Government to impose high levies or place outright ban on most of the imported alcohol drinks that had local replacement as was done with fruit juice.
She advised that industrial zones should be created in the states to enable small and medium-scale industrialists have access to basic infrastructure which they could not build.
Nzeribe said that the command had been able to bring in more factories and products from nine in 2011 to 18 in 2013.
She said that in spite of these challenges, the command generated the highest revenue from excise duty to the NCS and would soon enforce the general excise code to some traders in Lagos.
She said that the command had established a forum with traders where challenges and the way forward were being discussed.
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