The Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, KLT command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has said that it collected a total of N44.36 billion in the year 2022.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Hammi Swomen who disclosed this at a press briefing held yesterday at the command’s headquarters in Lagos pointed out that the amount represented a 21% increase on the N36.69 billion collected in 2021.
Swomen added that nine (9) seizures of 29 by 40ft and 3 by 20ft containers of assorted items were made within the period under review with a total Duty Paid Value, DPV of N737,578,939.00.
He maintained that the command witnessed increase in the number of terminals namely: Bestaf, Tenzik, and Sundial terminals for imports and exports.
The CAC listed other achievements of the command in the outgone year to include the establishment of a Dispute Resolution Committee, DRC/One Stop Shop for the command comprising strategic units to address issues whenever they arise, harmonious working relationship between the command and other government/security agencies and stakeholders and the establishment of a Staff Clinic for the command which was just commissioned by the Zonal Coordinator/ACG Modupe Aremu.
He however, opined that the year 2022 proved to be a challenging year for the Nigerian economy, with attendant adverse effects on revenue collection by the Service in general and the command in particular.
According to him, the year witnessed a sharp decline in the value of the national currency against other international currencies even as he maintained that other negative effects resulted from the Russian-Ukraine War which he believed affected countries around the world with increased inflation and prices of goods and services.
The Controller further observed that traffic congestion, dilapidated sections and ongoing road construction on the Oshodi – Apapa Expressway posed a big challenge to the transfer of containers from the mother ports to KLT explaining that the command relied almost exclusively on transfer by barge.
Citing reduction in the volume of cargo as one of the challenges faced by the command in the outgone year, he submitted that the command did not have its premises and was a tenant of the NPA noting that this had restricted its ability to put in place all structures required in a customs command.
“When I reported in December 2020, I came with a mandate to plug revenue leakages, enforce extant Import and Export Regulations and facilitate trade for all international trade actors operating in the command. Others include improved discipline and courtesy amongst Officers and Men of the command”, he said adding that “It is my pleasure to interact with you once more especially as I am set to bow out as the Customs Area Controller of KLT to resume in my new office in headquarters as the Acting ACG Excise/FTZ/I.I.
“Thank you for your support during the period of my stay in KLT by covering the activities of the command”, he added.
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