…Facilitates 150,930.7 Metric Tonnes of Export
…Seizes goods worth over N1Bn
The Tincan Island Port command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it collected a total of One Hundred and Seventy-Nine Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy-Five Million, Six Hundred and Twenty-Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Naira, Seventy-Four Kobo (N179, 275,629,170.74) between January and July 10th, 2019.
According to a statement issued in Lagos by the command’s spokesman, Mr. Uche Ejesieme and signed by the Customs Area Controller of the command, Mr. Musa Baba Abdullahi, a comparative review of the preceding year 2018 indicated that the command realized One hundred and Seventy-Two Billion, Five Hundred and Fourteen Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, and Seventy-Six Naira, Eighty-Three Kobo (N172, 514,359,076.83) which represents 52.28% of the annual revenue target.
According to the statement, the recent record showed a differential of Six Billion, Seven Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand, and Ninety-Three Naira, Ninety-One Kobo (N6, 761,270,093.91) from the record of the previous year.
It added that the command, during the period under review embarked on full automation of export procedures as a panacea for seamless transactions which translates to a total of 150,930.7 metric tonnes of export with Free On Board (FOB) value of Sixty-Eight Billion, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Seven Million, Two hundred and Twenty-Six Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Three Naira (N68,887,226,493.00).
“It will be recalled that the command, during the preceding year of 2018, recorded 118,452.87 MTS of export with FOB of Sixty-Three Million, One Hundred and Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-Seven Naira (N63, 109,427.00).
“The milestones recorded in the area of export are clearly indicative of awareness by stakeholders on the available opportunities inherent in export business. The command will continue to sensitize and encourage would be exporters”, the statement said.
On seizures and detentions, the statement noted that deliberate and concerted efforts were being made to ensure that examination and releasing officers remained proactive as well as preemptive in the discharge of their statutory functions.
It continued, “Consequent upon the anti-smuggling drive by the Area Controller, the command recorded seizures of 5 x 40ft and 4 x 20ft containers consisting of various uncustom goods during the period under review ranging from used tyres and used rims, bags of rice, cartons of Tramadol and other pharmaceuticals with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, One Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million, Two Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty-Seven Naira (N1,159,215,637.00).”
Speaking on measures adopted by the command to facilitate, the statement revealed that the need for facilitation of legitimate trade was at the front burner of command’s discourse leading to the creation of various platforms for expeditious resolution of disputes and issues related thereto.
It listed the platforms to include but not limited to; regular stakeholders’ engagement and feedback, Dispute Resolution Committee, Time Release Studies, Help Desk, One Stop Shop and Fast track facilities even as it added that the approach had led to the speedy resolution of disputes arising from Valuation, Classification, PAAR among others.
“The Command is also working out actionable modalities for the use of Barges in transferring cargo from the mother port to off-dock terminals. This is with a view to reducing congestion and speed up cargo delivery considering the fact that cargo throughput is increasing and road infrastructure is overstretched”, it further said.
The statement however assured of the command’s continued strive for excellence in achieving the mandate of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and his management stressing that “efforts will remain in top gear towards the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks and impediments in the trade value chain.
“Our ultimate aim is not just to key into the Presidential Directives on Ease of Doing Business which is in line with World Customs Organization’s (WCO) Trade Facilitation Agenda but to be seen as being at the Vanguard”.
It therefore appreciated the support and collaboration of Partner Government Agencies namely; Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Police, Quarantine, National Environmental Standard and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), importers, agents and other critical stakeholders including the Press in the onerous task of nation building while reiterating the command’s commitment towards realizing and even surpassing its revenue target for 2019 “as we urge our esteemed stakeholders and officers/men to rise up to this challenge.”
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