Customs achieves 81.5% increase in PEBEC ranking, 74% growth in revenue generation

The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi said the Service achieved a remarkable 81.5 percent increase in its Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) ranking, moving up 33 places to tie at the top with four other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) out of 36 assessed.

Adeniyi who stated this at a press briefing to mark his one year in office on Wednesday said the Service’s trade facilitation measures implemented within the past year contributed to this improvement.

Ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are ranked by activities under eight broad indicator levels, including efficiency reforms based on service delivery within stipulated timelines, transparency reforms, the review and update of ServicesLevel Agreements, and support for manufacturing and agriculture export.

Speaking, Adeniyi said, “Between 2020 and 2022, the NCS maintained an average percentage score of 18.45%, ranking 28th out of the 37 MDAs ranked. By 2023, the NCS ranking fell further to 34th out of 39 MDAs, with a percentage score of 18.53%. However, by 2024, I am delighted to announce that the NCS moved up 33 places, now tied at the top with 4 other MDAs out of the 36 MDAs assessed, with a percentage score of 100%, marking a 81.5% increase.

“This remarkable improvement is directly attributed to the trade facilitation measures implemented within the past year.

“The NCS remains committed to ensuring that all recommendations and global best practices are implemented to the highest standard.”

Adeniyi said the Service also recorded a remarkable 74 percent growth in revenue collection, totaling N4.49 trillion between June 2023 and May 2024.

The revenue collection, he said, surpassed the N2. 5trillion recorded in the same period last year with an average monthly collection of N343billion, compared to N202 billion in the previous year.

According to him, “This achievement was underpinned by its sustained increase of 70.13% in the average monthly revenue collection compared to the previous year.”

“Notably, there was a substantial 122.35% rise in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year.

He added that the designation of a dedicated terminal for exports also yielded significant gains, facilitating the processing of export goods through the Lilypond Command and accounting for 19.49% of total 38,294 export transactions recorded in 2023.

He said by the first quarter of 2024,
the Service has processed a total of 10,786 transactions, with 3,162 (29.32%) of these processed through the dedicated export terminal.

“Initially handling 317 Single
Goods Declarations (SGDs) in transactions, the terminal now manages 7,464 SGDs, accounting for 19.49% of the total 38,294 export transactions recorded in 2023,” he said.

In the area of anti smuggling, Adeniyi said the NCS’s anti-smuggling efforts have intensified, resulting in significant interceptions, high-value seizures, and numerous arrests.

Notable among the 63 seizures recorded include animal and wildlife products valued at N566million.

Others are arms and ammunition imported via the nation’s ports and illicit drugs involving narcotics and pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦6 billion.

“The Service also recorded 724 seizures of 2.93 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) that were attempted to be smuggled out of the country. The illegal dealings in petroleum evacuation have garnered the interest of relevant stakeholders, and the ongoing Operation Whirlwind will continue to intercept and disrupt the activities of smugglers in this regard.

“In a bid to guarantee food security and suppress the smuggling of food in and out of the country, the Service recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grain seizures valued at ₦4.4 billion,” the CG said.

Adeniyi attributed the Service’s success to collaborative engagements with stakeholders, ensuring smoother operations and facilitating revenue generation.

He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to protecting society, ensuring national security, and implementing global best practices to the highest standard.