The PTML command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday said it generated N229.5billion as revenue into the Federal government’s coffers in 2022.
Outgoing Controller of the command, acting ACG Suleiman Bomoi who disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of the command for the year said the figure represents 96 percent of the revenue target of N238.3billion set for the command in the review period.
He said the revenue generated is N5billion higher than the N224.5 revenue collected in the corresponding period of 2021.
Bomoi who was recently promoted acting ACG Customs Board, said though trade policies by government such as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) impacted the revenue of the command as vehicle importation through the PTML terminal, Nigeria’s biggest Ro-Ro terminal dropped by over 40 percent, the command was able to achieve the revenue through dialogue and engagement with clearing agents and their importers on the need for them to embrace the VIN valuation policy.
The engagement, according to him, recorded increased level of compliance by agents.
He said, “Last year had significant impact on Ports and Terminal Multiservice Limited (PTML) for several reasons- the nature of our operational area makes us deal more on vehicular cargoes (Roll-on Roll-off) and we were impacted by trade policies that affects automobile importation like the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Hence, in the year under review, about eighty percent of the cargo handled in the terminal were vehicles. As a customs command, we employed dialogue with our strategic stakeholders on the need to understand the basis of VIN valuation and engaged them severally to solicit their cooperation.
“We also strengthened our relationship with our strategic partners who are sister government agencies in the port.
“Our robust interface with private sector stakeholders and government agencies is ongoing in procedures. It is important to state that implementation of all government policies and directives are ongoing with increasing degree of compliance being recorded so far,” he said.
In the area of export, Bomoi said the Command handled export goods on commodities such as cocoa, sesame seeds, palm oil and other food items with a total tonnage of about 178,572.13 metric tons, with a total Free on Board (FOB) value of $249,419,604.52 in year 2022.
On anti-smuggling, he said the Command recorded seizures including arms and ammunition with a Duty Paid Value of N36million.
“As a result of diligent 100 percent cargo examination and deployment of intelligence, we uncovered attempts to smuggle arms and ammunition into the country concealed in imported vehicles.
“In the period under review, four seizures were recorded which include: (i) 1X40ft container containing three vehicles used to conceal two fire arms, one used Ford Edge containing fire arm and thirty rounds of live cartridges, one used Toyota sienna containing fire arm and one used Toyota corolla containing ninety rounds of live ammunition.
“A total of 6 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures and have been granted administrative bail,” he said.
On trade facilitation, the Customs boss said the command within the period under review sustained its average of four-hour clearance time of vehicle for compliant traders.
He added, “An efficient and accessible dispute resolution committee has been put in place to regularly brief the Customs Area Controller with a view to quickly resolving all trade disputes.
The dispute resolution Committee in the Command was strengthened last year under my watch with experienced and knowledgeable officers.
“It achieved reducing the period trade disputes were resolved. This committee contributed immensely to the success recorded during the year under review. I personally monitor transactions and interventions by various units daily to sustain our standard of ease of doing business and trade facilitation.”
He said the command has continued to maintain a cordial relationship with the various government agencies, which according to him has greatly contributed to the efficiency of the command in service delivery.
On the VIN valuation policy, Bomoi said the Command has been engaging stakeholders to address the issue associated with standard and non-standard VIN.
“The various interventions approved by headquarters on the issue are diligently being implemented in the command. The innovation to automate clearance of non-standard VIN and use of code 846 for clearance is being applied too. Gradually, our stakeholders are showing understanding.
“Within the period under review, we had very robust and productive engagements with other agencies of government where we shared ideas and pursued government objectives without compromising our respective mandates as enshrined in our enabling laws,” he said.
ACG Bomoi, however, noted that the absence of non-functional scanners and inadequate space are some of the major challenges faced by the command.
He expressed hope that the command will be provided a new scanner in no distant time to reduce the 100 percent physical examination of cargo.
Meanwhile ACG Bomoi has handed over to the new Controller of the command, Comptroller Ali Mahmoud Ibrahim.
Photo caption:
Outgoing Controller, PTML command, ACG Suleiman Bomoi (middle) flanked by senior officers during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.
