Tin-Can Island customs command generates N256.4b in 2016

The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N256.4 billion between January and December 2016, just as the Seme Command of NCS said it generated N10.5 billion within the same period.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, in a review of its 2016 activities said: “This figure represents a marginal difference when compared with the figure for 2016, with a shortfall of less than N10 billion, attributable to some factors beyond the control of the command,’’

The revenue shortfall is not only restricted the Tin Can Island Command alone, which revenue dropped from the N266.1 billion realised in 2015, but one that pervaded the entire NCS, which saw its reveue nose-dive from 2015 levels of N903 billion to N898.673 billion

Bashar, in a statement signed by the Command spokesman, Uche Ejesieme, disclosed that the Command intercepted a large quantity of arms and ammunition based on intelligence reports on February 15, March 7 and April 4, 2016, all of which were dully handed over to Department of State Security (DSS).

He also disclosed of other interceptions and seizures by the Command in 2016. These included the seizure of 31 containers of rice, falsely declared as bread improvers/flavoured Yeast Disodium on August 19; the interception of 27 x 20ft containers of vegetable oil in 25 kg kegs at Emog Terminal on November 3, another case of false declaration entered as disodium chemicals.

He further said that 1,395 cartons of Ready to Eat food preparations imported from India-such as Egusi soup, porridge yam, beans, fried rice, jollof rice, etc, were intercepted as well as a spectacular interception and seizure of eight bags of unmanifested substances in one container.

He explained that the eight bags consisted of 200 fully compressed substances, which were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and later confirmed to be cocaine with a street value of N2 billion.

Aside from the seizures and interceptions, the Controller also said there was infrastructure facelift of the office complex, which, hitherto, was in deplorable state, adding that the establishment of a well-equipped clinic will serve the health needs of both officers and other members of the public.
Bashar recalled that there was an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Customs to the command on October 27, just as some suspects were handed over to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for falsification of SON Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) and a host of others.

On his part, the Seme Command’s Spokesperson, Selechang Taupyen, said duty and taxes accrued from escorted transit vehicles accounted for 56 per cent of the total revenue generated in 2016.

“From January to December 2016, the Command generated N10.5 billion as revenue from general cargoes and vehicles. Duty and taxes accrued from escorted vehicles accounted for 56 per cent of the total revenue generated in the year under review,” he said.Taupyen said the Command is passionate and resolute in enforcing the Federal Government’s fiscal policies.adding that the command remains committed to exceeding its targets.

He revealed that the command made a total of 848 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N608.2 million in the year under review.According to him, there is a corresponding decline in smuggling activities due to the command’s aggressive anti-smuggling operation in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs.