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Customs rakes in N4.4bn from Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi

By Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
18 September 2015   |   2:38 am
THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has, between January and August this year, raked in N4.4 billion as excise in three Southeast states of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi Also, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) yesterday announced plans to facilitate at least N60bn worth of cargo freight to Enugu and other states in the…
Ebonyi state.

Ebonyi state.

THE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has, between January and August this year, raked in N4.4 billion as excise in three Southeast states of Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi

Also, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) yesterday announced plans to facilitate at least N60bn worth of cargo freight to Enugu and other states in the region through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

Speaking during the commissioning of a functional customs bonded cargo warehouse at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Emene, Enugu, Area Commander, Mr. Kashim Aliya, said the cargo base would be of great benefit to the country as it would help boost the revenue collection.

He stated that to facilitate trade compliance among users of the bonded warehouse, the companies should apply for Direct Traders Input (DTI) licence for a customs-licensed private Business Centre where importers would make Customs Declaration and Assessment Notice, Notice of Payment of Duty and other charges.

He explained that the Enugu-Anambra-Ebonyi Area Command was an Excise-oriented command, noting that 98 per cent of the command’s revenue was from the Excise Trades rather than from import duties, “despite the presence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport commissioned since September 2013.” He added that the command realized an average of N500,000 revenue from customs duties monthly from the airport through passenger baggage declarations.

Managing Director of NAHCO, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, said the company was often willing and determined to partner with any government or agency that shared its vision of enhancing the economic development of the country and empowering its people.

He said revenues accruing to the government would be increased by the volume of cargo to be hauled directly from abroad to the Enugu axis, which could be 20 per cent of the total volume normally freighted to Lagos.

He said: “We estimate that about N60 billion worth of cargo, which is about 20 per cent of the entire cargo in Lagos is earmarked for the five Eastern states with a lot of them finding their ways to Enugu, Onitsha, Aba and Umuahia.

Represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Hassan Yahaya, he added that when the past administration decided to upgrade the Enugu Airport to an international status, his company decided to be the first to support operations there, adding that the firm has already done a test-run with Ethiopian Airlines for six months. According to him, “a number of international airlines are ready to come in.”

He noted that the N60 billion invested in the cargo programme would generate a lot of economic multipliers to Enugu State.
Bielderman said that NAHCO had already started bringing into the country, equipment that would be installed at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, although he added that the “equipment have been cleared and are in our facilities in Lagos awaiting the completion of the airport.”

Bielderman said that pursuant to the company’s commitment to exceptional value creation for shareholders, it is currently consolidating its aviation services operations and expanding across

Africa, adding that the company had also incorporated NAHCO FTZ Limited to drive the free trade zone initiative and enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness.

Also speaking, Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, expressed readiness of his administration to assist any organization willing to establish business in the state for economic transformation and employment generation.

Ugwuanyi noted that since the establishment of the company that it has been a major player in the nation’s aviation sector, handling about 70 per cent of foreign and domestic airlines operating in the country.

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