The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has generated the sum of N1.003 trillion in the first half of the year, January to June, 2021.
Public Relations Officer of the Service, Joseph Attah, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday said the revenue was N290.2billion higher than the N713.5billion collected within the same period of 2020.
He attributed the one trillion naira- mark to the “resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by COVID-19″.
Describing the achievement as unprecedented, Attah said the “Service revenue profile continues to be on the increase due to on-going reforms that exploits the potentials of technology through robust automation of the processes and procedures.
“Deploying officers strictly based on the Standard Operating Procedure, robust stakeholder sensitization resulting in more informed and voluntary compliance and improved working relationship with the National Assembly help the NCS attain such feat.”
He expressed the desire of the Service to generate more revenue than what is set for it given favorable environment as it is in the case of over N1trillion naira generated in 6 months.
In its anti-smuggling efforts, Attah said a total of with Duty Paid Value of N4.42billion was recorded during the period under review.
“Some of these seizures were dangerous items like arms and ammunition, illicit drugs and food items like rice, vegetable oil e.t.c. that could have had grave consequences on national security and economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NCS said it has extended by 14 days (July 7 to 20) the deadline for verification of private aircraft owners.
Attah said at the end of the verification period, which was previously announced for June 7 to July 6th, a total number of 58 private aircrafts owners have complied.
He said infractions discovered during the verification exercise included breach of Temporary Importation agreement, non-appropriate payment of duty and taxes.
The NCS spokesman, however noted that defaulters have indicated interest to pay, with some already commencing the process by making appropriate declarations.
He said by the end of the extended period, the Service will invoke appropriate sanctions as contained in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 LFN 2004 as amended against any private aircraft owner that fails to take advantage of the period to verify their aircrafts.
