As part of efforts to balance Nigeria’s foreign trade, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has facilitated exports worth One Trillion, Thirty Two Billion, Six Hundred and One Million, Forty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Four Naira (N1,032,601,044,744.00) at Tin Can Island Port, TCIP.
The Customs Area Controller, TCIP Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, revealed this during the Command’s half year press briefing which held at the secretariat of the Maritime Reporter’s Association of Nigeria, MARAN.
His words: “The total Free On Board, FOB value of NXP for commercial goods exported through Tin Can Island Ports in the first half of 2024 is N1,032,601,044,744.00 and a total volume of 489,594.50 Metric Tons, MT as against export value of 1st half 2023 of One Hundred and Eighty-Two Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty Three Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand Naira (N182,333,764,943.00) with a total volume of 291,436MT.
“In terms of value, Soya beans was the highest export commodity worth N92,059,078,980.00 while self adhesive was the lowest export commodity with a value of N17,560,865.00.”
According to the TCIP Customs boss, the high export figures for 2024 is attributable to the high degree of stakeholders engagement, accessibility of the Tin Can Island/ Mile 2 port access roads, improved efficiency from the Command’s officials, and other innovations.
Nnadi also noted that Tin Can Island Customs amassed N575 bilion revenue in the first six months of 2024, which represents 221.13% increase when compared to 2023 figures.
“This 2024 half-year revenue represents an increase of N315, 248,670,683.90bn from the sum of N260,256,942,120.69bn revenue generated in the corresponding period in 2023. This aligned with the statutory functions of the Service in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement/ anti-smuggling activities.”
“Customs, being the lead agency at the ports through its enforcement unit has coordinated several 100% physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure that the Command is freed of any form of non-compliance to the international trade cycle”
Some of the items seized include three plastic drums concealing several packets of Cannabis Indica, 46 bags containing 2144 packets of Cannabis Indica all weighing 1,072kg imported from Canada. The approximate street value of the illicit substances is N3, 216,000,000.00 valued at N3.216billion.
While noting that the total Duty Paid Value of all the seizures amounted to N8.9 billion, Nnadi pointed out that the significance of the seizures isn’t the amount but the ability to stop the injection of those illicit drugs, arms and ammunitions into the country.
Comptroller Nnadi noted that there have been modest gains and developments at TCIP since the launch of the Time Release Study, TRS at the Command, even though he asserted that the findings will be formally released by the Comptroller General of NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.
Nnadi, however, stressed the need for more stakeholders involvement in TRS initiative. He equally co-opted MARAN as one of its strategic partners for TRS, while he encouraged the association to continue playing a strategic role in ensuring the development of the port sector.
On stakeholders’ engagement, the CAC informed that the Command had in the past few weeks engaged with different sections of stakeholders adding that these meetings had both been virtual and physical.
According to him, “The Command has engaged Shipping companies/lines on modalities to automate communication channels to reduce fraudulent manifest transmission, recycled bills of lading and other channels that could lead to revenue loss. The Command also engaged Terminal Operators and Barge Operators on Reforms and Standardizations for transire management and seamless movement of cargo in the trade cycle. The Command had guests from Ministry of Environment who came to enlighten us that the ban of Wood and Charcoal has been lifted.”
Noting that the Command made available facilities for resolving disputes and addressing legitimate complaints of stakeholders as it relates to the customs clearance process via the Dispute Resolution Committee and the Helpdesk, he added, “These facilities have been strategic and significant in assisting the Command to maintain a balance between facilitating legitimate trade and collecting appropriate taxes on behalf of Government.”
“In the meantime, the port access and terminal access roads are undergoing construction works and further decongestion, the Command has continued to facilitate the use of Barge as an alternative means of transport for the movement of custom cargo in line with international best practices, helping to maintain business and flow in the customs clearance process.
“While we are optimistic for better performance ratings, the implementation of the e-Customs project and the installation of smart technology at the ports will be a turning point in the digitalization of customs processes & procedures and will significantly boost the Command’s capacity to enforce compliance and generate revenue in line with international best practices”, he further said.
Photo: Ngozi Okwara, Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tincan Island Customs Command (2nd from left), Comptroller Dera Nnadi, Customs Area Controller, Tincan Island Customs Command (3rd from left), Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, President of MARAN (4th from left) during the press conference at the MARAN Secretariat on Friday.
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