… Describes outgone year as
successful
The Customs Area Controller, Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), Comptroller Festus Okun has described the year 2021 as a successful year for the command considering its accomplishments in the discharge of its service core mandates of revenue generation, facilitation of legitimate trade, anti-smuggling activities and ensuring of national security.
Comptroller Okun who made this disclosure in a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday said that the command collected a total revenue of two hundred and twenty-four billion, four hundred and seventy million, one hundred and thirteen thousand, seven hundred and thirty-three naira (N 224,470,113,733.00) in the year in review.
He observed that this represented about ninety-four percent of the revenue target of two hundred and thirty eight billion, two hundred and twenty four million, nine hundred and twenty thousand, thirty-eight naira, eighty eight kobo (N238,224,920,038.88) set for 2020 and adopted by the command in 2021.
According to him, this showed an increase of thirty-five billion, one hundred and twenty-two million, five hundred and forty-eight thousand, four hundred and twenty-four naira (N35,122,548,424.00) when compared with the total revenue generated in the previous year (2020), which was one hundred and eighty-nine billion, three hundred and forty-seven million, five hundred and sixty-five thousand, three hundred and nine naira (N189,347,565,309.00).
“This represents an increase of nineteen percent (19%)”, he said.
Speaking on export, the Controller noted that the command handled export goods with a total tonnage of about one hundred and ninety-nine thousand, four hundred and eighty-seven (199,487) metric tons, with a total Free on Board (FOB) value of one hundred and thirty-two billion, four hundred and fifty-one million, eight hundred and nineteen thousand, six hundred and forty-one naira, sixty-two kobo (N132,451,819,641.62).
On the anti-smuggling activities of the command, the PTML customs boss pointed out that the command made some seizures in the year under review adding that the seizure comprised of four (4) containers ; (3x40ft & 1x20ft) which were found to contain bags of rice, vegetable oil, drinks, vehicles, pharmaceutical product among others with a Duty Paid Value of fifty-five million, five hundred and twenty-nine thousand, two hundred and eighty-five naira (N55,529,285.00).
“The seizures were effected because the importations were done in contravention of extant laws. Vegetable oil is listed under Schedule III of the Common External Tariff (CET) Prohibition (Trade)”, he explained.
On trade facilitation, he said, “The command sustained and improved on various measures emplaced to enhance facilitation of legitimate trade. Some of these measures were in the area of capacity building for officers, strengthening of the dispute resolution committee and building a strong team for quality service delivery, thus engendering ease of doing business.
“We have a functional help-desk while we keep our doors open to stakeholder for direct access.”
The Controller went on to inform that the command attached so much importance to the issue of national security, hence, “our officers carefully conduct physical examination of cargo to make sure that all importations are done in strict compliance with extant laws, especially in the area of compliance with regulatory requirements for controlled items and enforcement of import prohibition laws.”
On inter-agency collaboration, he maintained that it was on record that a very robust relationship existed among the various government agencies operating in the command including the Nigeria Police, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, NESREA among others.
“We have effectively functioned as the lead agency towards ease of doing business in the port. This has greatly contributed to the efficiency in service delivery”, he added.
He continued, “The command has continued to maintain a cordial relationship with the various stakeholders like importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders and others. Regular meetings were held with our critical stakeholders where issues affecting various segments of the supply chain were well discussed and solutions proffered.
“Furthermore, the forum served as a platform through which compliance was being preached and feedback received. Through these engagements, we were able to operate in an atmosphere that was conducive for trade and accomplishment of our Service goals.”
Comptroller Okun, however, listed the poor state of the access roads to the port and the accompanying gridlock as part of the challenges of the command in the outgone year adding that it impacted negatively on the turn-around time for the movement of cargo outside the port and movement of export cargo into the port.
“Furthermore, movements of officers and other stakeholders were largely affected, leading to loss of man hour. Also, there were cases of our personnel being involved in avoidable accidents. However, we must state that we benefitted from the improvement in the area of port access roads when compared with the previous year.
“Another challenge we had during the year was the volatile nature of our environment. However, with effective stakeholder engagement, we were able to control the situation and sustain the relative peace we have been enjoying.
“Another area of challenge is the issue of one hundred percent (100%) physical examination of containerized cargo. This is due to absence of Scanners in the port. We are hoping that this will soon be a thing of the past once the e-Customs project is fully implemented”, he submitted.
Concluding, the Customs Area Controller reiterated that in spite of the challenges faced in the year 2021, it was a successful year for the command having been able to improve on its performances in the year when compared with the previous year, 2020.
“As regularly done, we have conducted our “SWOT Analysis,” and mapped out strategies to build on the successes recorded in the year 2021. We will build and improve on our areas of strength, work on weaknesses identified, take our opportunities right from the low hanging to the challenging ones and put measures in place to deal with the threats. By so doing, we forecast a better performance in the year 2022.
“Moving forward, our projections for the year 2022 is to be able to consolidate on the gains of the year past (2021) in the areas of faithful and effective implementation of government fiscal policies, raising the level of compliance by all critical stakeholders in the supply- chain”, he further said.
He, therefore, expressed deep appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and his entire management team “for the support the command enjoyed in the year in review, their inspiring leadership, giving us direction and guiding us aright. We also want to appreciate him for additional operational vehicles we received during the year under review. And this has greatly impacted our operations positively.”
Photo: Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.)
Send your news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @ptreporters and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526, 08053908817.
