Nigeria Customs Service generated the sum of N1,562,115,419,216.32 for the target of year 2020.
The amount generated is over the target of N1,380,765,353,462.00 and over the sum of N1,342,006,918,504.55 generated in 2019 despite the covid-19 pandemic.
Commenting on this feat, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col, Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) describe it as a result of resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by Covid-19.
The service revenue generation profile has continued to be on the rise annually as the ongoing reforms in the Service insist on:
Strategic deployment of officers strictly using the standard operating procedure.
Strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and tradedepartment.
Automation of the Customs process thereby eliminating vices associated with the manual process.
Robust stakeholder sensitization resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance.
Increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above selves.
The partial border closure which has forced cargoes that could have been smuggled through the porous borders to come through the sea and airports raised revenue collection from ports.
Before the commencement of the border drill on 20″ August 2019, revenue generation was between billion to *s billion but now NCS generate between A5 billion to Ng billion daily.
Diplomatie engagements that took place during the partial land border closure yielkdled many positive results, including commitment to comply with the ECOWAS Protocol on Transit. Operationalization of joint border patrols at both sides of the border.
The reams are required to share intelligence and ensure prevention of transit of prohibited goods into the neighbor’s territory.
Accordingly Service wishes to express Es readiness to strictly implement the outcome of the diplomatic engagements as the land borders open lor movement of cargoes.
Intelligence gatheredd during the period and the introduction of the e-Customs whose components include installation of scanners at all entry points will enhance border security and boost national trade facilitation.
Already Ministry of Finance has purchased three (3) new scanners. Interestingiy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also expressed commitment to purchasing four (4) Scanners and estabish the control center lor monitoring all scanning sites in their bid to boost national economy, especially agricultural sector.
This means that within the next six (6) months, NCS will have about seven functional scanners to be mounted at strategic entry points even before the full deployment of e-Customs components which will see to the deployment of 135 modern scanners.
NCS appreciates and commends the leadership of CBN for this strategic intervention in the interest of the nation.
In the same vein, the Service efforts to prevent the entry of items that could
compromise the Security of our citizens, Economy and the well being of our people resuted in the seizures of 4,304 assorted items with a duty paid value of N28,287,285,847.52.
These seizures include arms, ammunitions, illicit drugs, used cloching vegetable oil, frozen poultry and foreign rice among others that have grave consequences an economy security and well being of Nigerians.
While we give asurances of total commitment to the course of protecting national security and economy, we call on Nigerians, especially the business community to support the NCS as our borcders open to African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in order to benefit trom the trade agreement and other cTOSS border activities.
