Tin Can Island Customs Command Rakes In N26.3bn In April, Highest In 30 Years

The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it collected N26.3 billion in April alone against the N16.7 billion realised in March.

The Area Controller, Mr Jibrin Zakari, said in a statement in Lagos that the figure was the highest recorded by the command in 30 years.
According to him, a large percentage of the revenue came from levies and import duty on wheat, iron, cigarette, rice and sugar.
The spokesman for the command, Mr Chris Osunkwo, attributed the feat to what he called good leadership.

The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it collected N26.3 billion in April alone against the N16.7 billion realised in March.

The Area Controller, Mr Jibrin Zakari, said in a statement in Lagos that the figure was the highest recorded by the command in 30 years.
According to him, a large percentage of the revenue came from levies and import duty on wheat, iron, cigarette, rice and sugar.
The spokesman for the command, Mr Chris Osunkwo, attributed the feat to what he called good leadership.
He said the command had resolved some hitches in cargo clearance caused by the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR).
“The resolution committee was able to look at the complaints of clearing agents and treat them on their merits.
“We discovered that the primary reason for the problem in PAAR is the inappropriate declaration of cargo and payments by agents.
“There is discrepancy in the presentation of documents and inconsistency in PAAR.
“We discovered that the documents some agents present to the bank are different from what they presented to the Customs,’’ he added.
Osunkwo noted that any document that had been altered would create problem for the Customs.
“If an agent complains of cost, insurance and freight value and the customs realise that the complaint is in order, the agent will receive a demand notice.’’
He said cargo clearance had become easier following the resolution of the operational hitches.
Osunkwo urged stakeholders in the sector to always comply with the rules.