…As Comptroller Egbudin calls for transparent declaration
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that it collected a whooping N23.4billion as revenue for the month of January 2016.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Willy Egbudin gave the figure at a monthly stakeholders meeting held in Lagos last week.
Giving a further information on collections in the last two years, Egbudin stated that in 2014 the command collected a total of N301 billion in 2014 while a decline of N288 billion was collected in 2015 respectively.
The former Lilypond and Seme Commands Controller reiterated the command’s commitment in ensuring that the service met the target set aside for it.
“We will pray that this year, we should be able to exceed at least N300 to N400 or N500 billion and that is our expectation. So far, I don’t think we are doing badly even though we are not meeting the target because for the month January this year we had been able to realize N23.4billion compared to January last year which was N20.7 billion you know that we are starting well”
He added that the command was starting on the right path to ensure that the service actualize the revenue target, even as he appealed with operators to comply with trade facilitation.
“Apart from the revenue collections and anti smuggling, one other thing is to facilitate trade because it takes two to tango”
He further urged stakeholders, comprising freight forwarders, importers, bankers and some agencies of government to assist the customs in trade facilitation stressing the need for synergy among players involved in trade facilitation.
The comptroller however appealed to stakeholders to embrace honest and transparent declaration,
Egbudin added, “if you want your trade to be facilitated you have to make honest declaration”.
The Comptroller maintained by appealing to the stakeholders to carry out honest declaration even as he called on the operators to work hand in hand with the command in projecting customs visions and mission.
“The command is repositioned to collect the revenue for government and ensure that the stakeholders carry out the transactions without delay. You know that Apapa Area command is the flagship of customs service and if the service is to get it right, that means this command must get it right and if we are not getting it right, that means other commands are not getting it right”, he stated.
However, he admitted that there had been a sharp drop on importation but added that with honest and transparent declaration, the N1.1 trillion target set aside for the service could be achieved.
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