The Nigeria Customs Service has disclosed that year 2021 has been an eventful year for the Service despite the debilitating effects of the global pandemic .
Amist the negative effects of the pandemic on socio- economic lives of people around the globe, the Service has been able to achieve major milestones in the year 2021.
Speaking on Monday at Apapa Customs Command during the 2021 edition of the annual stakeholders and media briefing of the Service, the Deputy National Public Relations Officer, Dc Timi Bomodi hinted that the year began with high expectations with regards to revenue generation and enforcement of fiscal policy.
Dc Bomodi said the Service was given N1.669trillion as revenue target for the year 2021 based on what was generated into the federal government account in year 2020 and has surpassed it by over N6 billion even when the year has not ended
While speaking on Trade Facilitation, A Tool For Enhanced Revenue Generation: The NCS Perspective, he said the Service has achieved 90percent automation of its operation.
According to the Customs National Image Maker “In August, the service made seizures of 17,137kg of pangolin scales, 44kg elephant tusks and 60kg pangolin claws, all valued at over N22billion.
“In October FOU operatives in Zone A seized 751 bullets concealed in garri sacks, while arms, ammunition and military uniforms were intercepted at Tin Can Port Lagos in September 2021, just to mention a few.
“Apapa Area 1 Command through the cooperation of other sister agencies and the Nigerian Navy a landmark seizure of cocaine with a DPV of $54 million” he added.
He disclosed the uniqueness of the above particular seizure due to the fact that the illicit substance was found in one of the compartments of a bulk carrier of sugar.
“In the same Command 97 containers carrying illicit, expired drugs and other offensive goods with a DPV of N17.5billion were seized.”
“These numerous arrests and seizures are daily features in the activities of Customs officers nationwide, and they underscore the fact that we operate in a highly noncompliant environment.”
Speaking on automation, Bomodi said, “At current levels, NCS has integrated and automated over 90percent of its activities.
“Members of the public have continued to avail themselves of copious information on both its web based and mobile applications.
“The Service in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance has also introduced the National Vehicle Registry VReg portal which among other things incorporates an automated vehicle valuation mechanism that authenticate Vehicle Identity Number (VIN) and validates the make, model and year of manufacture for easy assessment of value for Customs purposes “ he quipped.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Apapa Area Controller in chay.of the command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta stressed on the need for total compliance to clearing procedures.
Comptroller Yusuf maintained that to enjoy facilitation of trade, level of compliance must be high and their must be balance between trade facilitation and revenue generation.
