2022: Customs Tincan Island Command Makes N574bn Revenue, N1.8bn Seizures & Facilitates $589m Export

The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced revenue collection of N574,290,210,599.38 from January to December 2022, indicating an increase of N80bn (16.33%) from the N493,682,369,264.35 collected in 2021.

In the area of export, the Command recorded a significant increase in the FOB of Exports in the period under review to the tune of $589,696,648 (N242,365,322,333.00) as against the $496,075,796 (141,985,109,159.00) recorded in the year 2021, which shows a decrease in Tonnage of Export from 1,723,986.8 in 2021 to 336,179.5 in 2022.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede, made this known during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Lagos.

He further disclosed that the increase in revenue was due to the modalities put in place such as the identification of areas of revenue leakages, blocking same, and leveraged on available facilities on the NICIS II Platform for enhanced Risk Management which further enhanced accelerated Customs Clearance Processes, Trade Facilitation and ensured collection of appropriate duties and taxes.

The Command made a total of 38 seizures including 763pkgs of cannabis Sativa weighing 345.1kg with a street value of N714,600,000, 2594 pieces of ammunition, and other prohibited items, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,846,372,083.50.

A total of 60 suspects were detained during the period under review and were granted administrative bail while the Command has 8 cases pending in court.

The CAC acknowledged the prominent roles played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, Valuation Unit, Federal Operations Unit, CGC Strike Force, and Customs Police as well as interventions of Sister Regulatory Agencies like the NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, SON, the Nigeria Police, and others in ensuring the seizures and detentions were made.

Compt. Oloyede pointed out that the Command also ensured robust and continuous stakeholder engagements and collaboration with all sister government agencies and maritime associations, which led to timely intelligence sharing, utilization, and voluntary compliance with the government’s extant laws by the trading public.

“The Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) which is a structure put in place by the Command for prompt resolution of Trade Disputes led to a reduction in average clearance time of such issue laden imports”.

Speaking further on the VIN valuation and automation of 846 procedure, he said: “The VIN Valuation has simplified and facilitated the Customs Clearance Process of imported vehicles by providing a uniform, fair and neutral value across the board on vehicles with identical brands, model and year of manufacture in line with the provisions of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) of 1994.

“Regardless, the Command is poised to continue building on the Automation, Simplification, Standardization, and Harmonization of all Customs Processes in line with the Revised Kyoto Convention and international best practices”.

The CAC thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Ibrahim Hameed Ali (Rtd), and his management, officers and men of the Command, stakeholders, and the media for their support.

He also appreciated sister agencies involved in the export chain with special commendation to the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) for their seamless collaboration in facilitating the clearance process of export-related cargo at the Tincan Island Port Command.

Compt. Oloyede’s 2023 projection for the Command includes an improved revenue profile, facilitation of legitimate trade, and enhanced capacity and skills of officers and men of the Command.