NCS Generates N94bn in
NCS Generates N94bn in Onne Command
The Onne Command of the Nigerian Customs Service under the
leadership of Controller Aliyu Galadima Saidu, has generated N94bn
in 2018 which is about 80% of allotted Annual Target of ₦117.8
Billion.
A comparative review of the preceding year shows that the
Command realized ₦373mn more than it did in 2017 bringing it to
about 0.35% increase in the Revenue Collection.
Specifically, when relating the revenue collected and seizures
to the operational strategies used, the Command focused mainly on
intelligence base risk profiling of the system with 100% physical
examination of cargo at the various Terminals and Sheds; meetings
and sensitizing the stakeholders on the need and benefits of
compliance; application of due diligence and professionalism in
documentation and examination of cargoes; and importantly, building
synergy with other relevant government agencies such as NAFDAC,
SON, Port Health, NDLEA and other sister security agencies
especially Navy, Police and Immigration for information which has
proven to be useful at crucial moments.
It was on the basis of the foregoing that the Command recorded
61 remarkable seizures of various items such as 9 x 40 ft
containers of Tramadol, Hyergra, Diclofenac and Analgesic Tablets
of different types; 64 of 20 containers of foreign parboiled rice
and other items such as military uniforms, boots and caps with a
total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1.6bn. A comparative review of the
seizure profile of 2017 revealed that the year 2018 surpassed with
37 seizures and DPV of ₦1,147,142,275 bringing to about 60.7%
increase in seizures and 70.9% increase in DPV as regards to
general enforcement.
More so, we seized one hundred and twenty-six (126) containers
which is 81% increase of the twenty-four (24) containers
confiscated in the preceding year 2017.
All these seizures followed various infractions such as false
declaration, concealment, wrong classification, import without end
user certificate and complete disregards of import and export
guidelines with intent to smuggle in illicit goods.
It should be well noted that smuggling pose a high threat to
both the national economy and security and that is why those who
engage in it are considered as economic saboteurs. They are the
destroyers of the country’s economy, because they want to evade
payment of import duty and import items that are security threat to
the nation.
Nevertheless, it is worrisome and very unfortunate that despite
the wide awareness on the dire consequences of smuggling activities
on economic growth and development, some citizens still find joy in
perpetuating this evil act only for their personal gains.
The Command has worked in synergy with other Customs Units such
as the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Valuation, CG’s Strike
Force and Post Clearance Audit (PCA) to achieve maximum compliance
to the extant laws on import and export for increased revenue
generation; and anti-smuggling feat.
Again, the Command recorded a high level of compliance on export
declarations. A total of 136,973,413.92 metric tonnes of exported
goods with a total Free On Board (FOB) value of $1,126,516,635.9
which is equivalent to ₦409,083,251,160.73 (@ #363.14 per dollar)
was realized.
The Command has started the year 2019 on a promising note. It is
heart-warming to note that during the first quarter, the Command
has been able to generate the sum of ₦25,561,932,417.78 when
compare to ₦18,857,668,490.00 generated in the first quarter of
2018, accrued to 26.2 percent increase. We recorded seizures of
nine (9) containers comprising 57,300 pieces of machetes without
end-user certificates; 2,000 Jerry Cans of 25 litres of vegetable
oil; 6,456 cartons of foreign soap; 535 bales and 142 cartons of
wears; and 69 bags of foreign rice with a total Duty Paid Value
(DPV) of ₦106,889,670.00
The overall achievement is sequel to the support of the
Comptroller-General of Customs and his Management Team with the
full deployment of NICIS II application in the Command which
necessitated training of five hundred and twenty (520)
Officers/Men, and the resultant effect has yielded an intrinsic
advantage in terms of revenue, control of infractions in the system
and increased compliance level as a result of the additional
functionalities. Furthermore, the Command has started in-house
training of its Officers and Men on trade facilitation and with
emphasis on oil and gas equipment.
The Command will not rest on its oars and will strive to justify
the confidence reposed in us by the nation to make sure that this
year achievement surpasses the former.
Gentlemen of the Press, we use this forum to reassure you of the
Command resolution to achieve speedy clearance of cargo from the
ports, and also reduce the cost of doing business in the Maritime
Industry owing to the Presidential directives on Ease of Doing
Business. And we also affirm on the zero tolerance of the
Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) for
smuggling which remains unalterable as the Service will do
everything within its capacity to fight it to standstill.
In this respect, we beseech the stakeholders to continue to live
upright in their declarations with due diligence and
professionalism in proper documentation to avoid the negative
consequences of contravening the law.
Ifeoma Onuigbo Ojekwu
The Public Relations Officer
PH II Area Command, Onne Port