he Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has said that it collected the sum of N2.74 trillion in the first half of 2024 as against the N2.54 trillion revenue target set for it by the federal government.
The amount surpassed the revenue target set for the Service for the first half of 2024 by the federal government by 8% translating to a 127% increase over the previous year’s revenue.
A statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs also informed that N1.395 trillion was collected for the second quarter, exceeding the quarterly target by 10% and representing a 131% increase over Q2 2023.
It explained that key initiatives contributing to this success included the e-auction platform, which generated over N1.34 billion, and the 90-day duty payment window for uncustomed vehicles, adding N4.37 billion to the revenue. “These measures have significantly enhanced transparency, compliance, and efficiency in customs processes, underscoring the NCS’s commitment to excellence”, the statement added.
Noting that the Service intensified its anti-smuggling operations in the first half of 2024, resulting in notable achievements, the statement detailed that, “From January to June 2024, the NCS made 2,442 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of NGN 25,520,652,942.87, which is 203% higher than the DPV of seizures in the first half of 2023.”
It continued, “In the second quarter of 2024, the NCS made 1,334 seizures with a DPV of NGN 17,564,384,378, representing a 121% increase over the first quarter of 2024. The top items seized include wildlife items, vehicles, arms and ammunition, foreign rice, pharmaceuticals, and narcotics, with 32 suspects in custody.”
While insisting that trade facilitation remained a core priority for the Service, the statement revealed that in the first half of 2024, the Service processed 620,467 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs), reflecting a reduction of approximately 39% compared to the same period in 2023.
“Despite this decline, the NCS has implemented several key initiatives to simplify and expedite customs processes. These include reinforcement of NCS automation procedures, capacity-building programs for officers, and public-private partnerships to enhance customs clearance efficiency. These efforts are crucial for enhancing Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and supporting economic growth”, the statement states.
It went on to indicate that despite the achievements recorded, the NCS faced several challenges in the first half of 2024, including significant fluctuations in the exchange rate, a lower volume of transactions, low compliance levels among importers and exporters, and periodic downtime.
“These challenges impacted the consistency of revenue collection and overall operational efficiency. To address these challenges and enhance revenue collection, the NCS implemented several strategies, including real-time system auditing, post-clearance audits, verification of documents for the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), ensuring compliance with import guidelines, and the implementation of a pilot test for the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) scheme.
“Additionally, the NCS has recently introduced the Advance Ruling System (ARS), a legally binding decision on classification, valuation, and rules of origin before the importation or exportation of goods. Other pragmatic measures implemented to increase revenue, despite a drop in cargo throughput, included establishing a robust framework for dispute resolution, launching Operation Whirlwind, reshuffling strategic-level officers and robust stakeholders’ engagement”, it said.
The statement, however, quoted the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as commending all officers and men of the NCS for their diligence and commitment while also acknowledging the stakeholders who had played significant roles in achieving this performance.
“He further reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s dedication to supporting the realisation of government policies for a better Nigeria”, the statement concluded.
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