Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported a record revenue generation of N575.5 billion in the first half of 2024, marking a substantial increase of 221.13% from the same period last year.
This announcement was made public by Comptroller Dera Nnadi, the area controller of the command during a briefing at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) secretariat.
He highlighted that the command’s revenue collection surged by N315.2 billion compared to the first half of 2023, underscoring the Command’s commitment to its statutory functions of Revenue Generation, Trade Facilitation, and Enforcement/Anti-smuggling activities.
“TCIP achieved a revenue collection of Five Hundred and Seventy-Five Billion, Five Hundred and Five Million, Six Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Eight Hundred and Four Naira and Fifty-Nine Kobo only (=N= 575,505,612,804.59). This is an improvement by =N=315, 248,670,683.90 billion and a 221.13% increase from the FY 2023 First Half revenue collection of =N=260,256,942,120.69 billion” he disclosed.
Nnadi also disclosed significant developments in the export sector, noting that commercial goods worth over N1 trillion were exported through Tin Can Island Ports, with notable contributions from commodities like Soya beans.
In the area of seizure and anti-smuggling, Dera disclosed that the command’s enforcement and anti-smuggling unit has not been relenting in its efforts to combat smuggling and all forms of criminality.
“Customs, being the lead agency at the Ports through its enforcement unit has coordinated several 100% physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure that the command is freed of any form of non-compliance to the international trade cycle,” he stated.
Some of the items seized include three plastic drums concealing several packets of Cannabis Indica, forty-six bags containing two thousand one hundred and forty-four packets of Cannabis Indica all weighing one thousand and seventy-two kilogrammes (1,072kg) imported from Canada.
The approximate street value of the illicit substances is N3, 216,000,000.00 valued at N3.216bn (Three Billion Two Hundred Sixteen Million Naira Only). The total Duty Paid Value of all seizures amounted to N8.9 billion.
He however pointed out that the significance of the seizures does not lie on the amount but the ability to stop the injection of those illicit drugs, arms and ammunitions into the country that are capable of wreaking havocs in the country.
The Comptroller attributed this success to collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders and emphasized the pivotal role of the Customs leadership in fostering operational excellence and adherence to international trade standards.
“We are grateful for the unwavering support from our stakeholders and the visionary leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, MFR. With continued dedication, we aim to achieve even greater milestones,” Nnadi concluded.