Nigerian Customs Declare N1.2tr As 2018 Revenue

LUCKY LAWAL

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has declared the total sum generated at the end of 2018.

According to the report issued by the National Public Relations Officer of the Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Atta, on Friday January 4 said that it generated the total sum of N 1,202,271,240,478.30 as revenue in 2018.

He compared that of the previous year, 2017 and announces that in 2017 the total amount of N1,037,373,967,400.80, was collected; this however came with a difference of N164,897,273,077.50 as revenue.

He disclosed that changes in the reform programme by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd,) was attributed to the increase in revenue which included the “Upgrade on the electronic systems from Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS I) to NICIS II which has blocked all revenue leakages; as well as strategic deployment of manpower.

The PRO, while speaking said the CGC ‘s other achievements were harped on, “Strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the Tariff and Trade department; robust stakeholder engagement resulting to increased compliance as well as the effective deployment of officers for results oriented by giving national interest a topmost attention.

The statement also added that, 5,235 seizures were made through the Service Anti – Smuggling operations with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N 61,543,633,401.31, respectively.

The seized items made included: arms and ammunition, over 59 containers of Tramadol, 320, 708 foreign parboiled rice and other controlled drugs.

The statement also hinted that even though smuggling has been a worrisome situation, the three-layer-security strategy will ensure the menace is outrightly frustrated and uninteresting to the economic saboteurs.

In order to record achievements in combating crime and other vices, the media, general public, border dwellers and port users has been tasked to give information to the Service of any suspected illegal activities.

He appreciated the various contributory roles played by stakeholders, and advised compliant business investors to imbibe the attitude of transparent declaration by paying correct Customs duty, adding that the traders efforts in 2018 have been highly commendable and urged them to do more in 2019.