The Nigeria Customs Service has announced that it generated the sum of N1,202,271,240,478.30 for the year 2018, representing N164,897,273,077.
Hameed Ibrahim Ali, Comptroller-General of Customs, commenting on this historic feat, described it as the result of dogged pursuit of what is right rather than being populist by compromising national interest on the altar of individual or group interests adding that the increase in annual revenue generation from the service in the last three years is the result of reform programmes embarked on.
He said “The increase in annual revenure generated in the last three years is the result of reforms programs which include but not limited to: Upgrade on the electronic systems from Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS I) to NICIS II which has blocked leakages; Strategic deployment of manpower; Strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the Tariff and Trade department; Robust stakeholder engagement resulting to increased compliance; Increased disposition of Officers and Men to put national interest above selves.
Ali, in a statement signed by Joseph Attah, Public relations Officer, NCS explained that in the same vain, the NCS reinvigorated anti-smuggling operations yielded a total of 5,235 seizures with duty paid value (DPV) of N61,543,633,401.31.
According to him these seizures include arms, ammunition, more than 59 containers of Tramadol and other controlled drugs and 320,709 foreign rice etc.
“Though smuggling remains a challenge, the service three layers security strategy continues to make smuggling unattractive to the would be smugglers, while the service continues to deal decisively with smugglers, fellow citizens, especially border dwellers and port users are advised to support NCS by reporting any smuggling activity to the nearest Customs formation”.
Together we can protect our economy and security by joining hands to fight smuggling and ensure that appropriate customs duty is paid on every dutiable import.
“Accordingly, we appreciate compliant stakeholders that have supported the Service in 2018 and call on all Nigerians and especially international trade actors to help make 2019 better for the nation”.
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja
