Nnadi takes over as 20th Tin Can Customs Controller as Oloyede bows out

.… promises to raise command’s revenue from 52 to 100% by year end

Comptroller Dera Nnadi has assumed duty as the new Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island port command with a promise to raise the command’s revenue collection from its current 52 percent to 100 percent by December 2023.

Nnadi takes over from Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede who has been redeployed to the Customs headquarters as Controller in charge of import and export.

Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the command in Lagos on Thursday, Comptroller Nnadi solicited the support and collaboration of stakeholders to enable the command meet its over N801billion annual revenue target.

He said with barely three months to the end of the year and the challenge posed by the floating of the exchange rate, the task ahead is daunting but expressed hope of surmounting it with the support and cooperation of stakeholders.

Speaking, he said, “For us as a command, it is a daunting task but it is surmountable. You are all aware that Nigeria Customs Service has three key performance indicators – revenue, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation. These three serve as yardsticks for measuring our performance. These indicators will always remain relevant in our discussion until we attain full development as a nation.

“The command revenue target of over N801billion currently stands at 52 percent with barely three months to the end of the year. It means that all of us here hold the country a responsibility to collect the balance of 48 percent, especially at a time when the floating exchange rate is affecting importers and indirectly affecting clearing agents. This is a big but achievable task.

“Similarly, our roles in securing the nation are vast ranging from intervention against economic saboteurs who disrupt and take advantage of the nation’s trade policy. This also includes those who contribute to the insecurity of the country through the importation of illicit goods.”

Nnadi, while affirming his resolve to rebrand the command, however, warned that the command under his leadership will not tolerate undue interference in trade matters noting that stakeholders including clearing agents and terminal operators must respect Customs mandate as a Service.

“Everybody here, freight forwarders, terminal operators and shipping companies and other government agencies have their various mandates. We will not tolerate undue interference with any other person’s privacy. Incursions by other people in trade matters have to stop. If we agree to equity, we must come with clean hands,” he said.

The new CAC promised to run an open-door policy to legitimate traders but shut his doors against fraudulent importers whose desire is to shortchange the government of its revenue, illicit importation and smuggling.

Earlier in his remarks, Comptroller Oloyede urged officers and stakeholders including sister agencies to extend the same support and collaboration given to him to the new Controller, whom he described as a trade facilitator to enable him succeed and achieve the command’s revenue target.

While urging clearing agents to improve their level of compliance, Oloyede urged them to also extend intelligence shared with the command in its anti-smuggling operation that led to the seizure of two containers of tramadol to the new controller.

” I know we are already in the ember months, so the incoming controller will need your support to be able to meet the revenue target and I know he is going to break my records. I also promise to give my support as Controller in charge of import and export and ensure that by God’s grace, he succeeds.

“When I came here, we tried all we could do, deployed several tools to make our work easier. Before leaving, we made a seizure that the Service saw as a commendable seizure and about nine officers were given letters of commendation. This showed that this command is doing well and it is because of your support and the intelligence you shared with us that made our efforts to be commended. So, we urge you to extend the same to the new CAC,” he said.