The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Custom Service has said that it has so far collected a whooping N151, 020, 258, 220. 00 between January to August 2013.
Briefing journalists at the command in Lagos yesterday, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Mr. Zakari Jibrin said that the command has been able to make the revenue due to increase in compliance on the part of the operators.
The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Custom Service has said that it has so far collected a whooping N151, 020, 258, 220. 00 between January to August 2013.
Briefing journalists at the command in Lagos yesterday, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Mr. Zakari Jibrin said that the command has been able to make the revenue due to increase in compliance on the part of the operators.
Giving a breakdown of the revenue, he said that the command recorded all-time-high revenue in August to the tune of N23, 682, 655, 278. 00, as against the N18, 492, 003, 340. 00 it made in the corresponding period of last year 2012.
This, according to him is the highest revenue recorded in the history of the Tin Can command.
In addition to this, Jibrin said that 159 seizures where recorded from January to August.
A breakdown of the seizures showed that 92 forty foot containers, 47 twenty foot containers, 3 unpacked vehicles, and 17 other general goods were seized. The Duty Paid Value of the seizures is placed at N481, 356, 000. 00.
The seizures according to the custom boss comprised of furnitures, used clothing, used tyres, generating sets, television stands, expired frozen fish, cartons of whiskey.
Others are; automotive batteries, mosquito coil, vegetable oil, soaps, soft drinks, tissue paper, lace materials, glass, television sets, bags of basmati rice and used shoes.
Jibrin said that eight arrests have so far been made in the period under review and that three of them have already been charged to court for prosecution.
He said that most of the seized cargoes were imported from China and that they were confiscated in line with section 146 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA)
"These seizures are false declaration, for example, they declared furniture parts but when examined was found to contain full furnitures. Eight arrests has been made in line with the seizures and three have been charged to court"
He assured that the command is fully prepared to combat the high level of smuggling that is synonymous to the ember months.
He reiterated that the level of compliance of stakeholders has increased and that this has led to a decrease in smuggling activities and seizures.
"The level of compliance from stakeholders is improving, the fact is that in Tin Can today there are lots of cargo, and once there is cargo and you put a little control, you will get what you want, this is exactly what is happening, we have the control and it is yielding results" Jibrin said.
He equally commended officers of the command for haven improved in their conduct and performances.
"If you ask the agents now they will tell you that the officers in Tin Can are improving" he said.
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