Nigeria Customs Service Generates ₦1.5trn In 2020

The Nigeria Customs Service has generated the sum of ₦1,562,115,419,216 for the year 2020.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of the service, Joseph Attah, said the generated revenue was over the target of ₦1,380,765,353,462 and over the sum of ₦1,342,006,918,504 generated in 2019 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the statement, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, attributed the feat to what he described as a result of the resolute pursuit of what was right and the willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by COVID-19.

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The NCS spokesman said the agency’s revenue generation profile had continued to be on the rise annually based on the ongoing reforms in the service.

He noted that the partial border closure which forced cargoes that could have been smuggled through the porous borders to come through the sea and airports raised revenue collection from ports.

“Before the commencement of the border drill on August 20, 2019, revenue generation was between N4bn to N5bn but now NCS generates between N5bn to N9bn daily,” the statement partly read.

“Diplomatic engagements that took place during the partial land border closure yielded many positive results, including the commitment to comply with the ECOWAS protocol on transit operationalisation of joint border patrols at both sides of the border.”

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SEE FULL STATEMENT HERE:

PRESS STATEMENT

Nigeria Customs Service generated the sum of N1,562,115,419,216.32 for the year 2020. Amount generated is over the target of N1,380,765,353,462.00 over the sum of N1,342,006,918,504.55 generated in 2019 despite the covid-19 pandemic.

Commenting on this feat, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col, Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) described it as a result of the resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by covid-19.

The service revenue generation profile has continued to be on the rise annually as the ongoing reforms in the Service insist on:

Strategic deployment of officers strictly using the standard operating procedure.

Strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and trade department.

Automation of the Customs process thereby eliminating vices associated with the manual process.

Robust stakeholder sensitization resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance.

Increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above selves.

The partial border closure which has forced cargoes that could have been smuggled through the porous borders to come through the sea and airports raised revenue collection from ports.

Before the commencement of the border drill on 20th August 2019, revenue generation was between N4 billion to N5 billion but now NCS generate between N5 billion to N9 billion daily.

Diplomatic engagements that took place during the partial land border closure yielded many positive results, including a commitment to comply with the ECOWAS Protocol on Transit. Operationalization of joint border patrols at both sides of the border.

The teams are required to share intelligence and ensure prevention of transit of prohibited goods into the neighbour’s territory. Accordingly Service wishes to express its readiness to strictly implement the outcome of the diplomatic engagements as the land borders open for movement of cargoes.

Intelligence gathered during the period and the introduction of the e-Customs whose components include installation of scanners at all entry points will enhance border security and boost national trade facilitation.

Already Ministry of Finance has purchased three (3) new Scanners. Interestingly, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also expressed commitment to purchasing four (4) Scanners and establish the control center for monitoring all scanning sites in their bid to boost the national economy, especially the agricultural sector. This means that within the next six (6) months, NCS will have about seven (7) functional Scanners to be mounted at strategic entry points even before the full deployment of e-Customs components which will see to the deployment of 135 modern Scanners.

NCS appreciates and commends the leadership of CBN for this strategic intervention in the interest of the nation.

In the same vein, the Service efforts to prevent the entry of items that could compromise the Security of our citizens, Economy and the well-being of our people resulted in the seizures of 4,304 assorted items with a duty paid value of N28,287,285,847.52.

These seizures include arms, ammunition, illicit drugs, used clothing, vegetable oil, frozen poultry and foreign rice among others that have grave consequences on the economic security and well-being of Nigerians.

While we give assurances of total commitment to the course of protecting national security and economy, we call on Nigerians, especially the business community to support the NCS as our borders open to African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in order to benefit from the trade agreement and other cross border activities.

Signed:

DC, Joseph Attah

Public Relations Officer