The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service says it collected the sum of N574.3 billion as revenue from January to December 2022.
Controller of the command, Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede, who disclosed this at a media briefing to showcase the performance of the command in Lagos on Friday said the figure represents 16.33% increase when compared to the previous year’s revenue collection.
He attributed the revenue increase to the constant rejiging of the existing measures geared towards sustaining the Command’s revenue profile as well as utilization of some disruptive strategic measures.
The measures, according to him, include periodic capacity building, reshuffling and redeployment of officers using the SWOT analysis, implementation of the VIN Valuation, automation of the 546 procedure, re-introduction of the NIIT after deployment of a Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology Equipment to the Command, Proper Profiling, System Audit, Proper recheck or Examination and detailed but clearly inputed Inspection Acts.
“The Command collected a total ofN574,290,210,599.38 between January to December, 2022. This figure when compared to the 493,682,369,264.35 collected in 2021 indicated an increase of N80,607,841,335.03,” he said.
Comptroller Oloyede added that continuous stakeholder engagements and collaboration with all sister government agencies also enabled the command to sniff out improper declarations and offending items as seizures with a Duty Paid Value N41.8billion were intercepted within the review period.
He said a total of 60 suspects were detained within the review period and were granted administrative bail while the Command has 8 cases pending in court.
Giving a breakdown of the seized items, he said they comprise of 763pkgs of Colarado (Cannabis Sativa) weighing 345.1kg with a street market value of 714,600,000.00 as given by the NDLEA, 5 x 40 containers of used Motor Tyre (5050 pistes), 1,150 bales of second hand clothings, 1,190 cartons of 20per cartons of Possuem Bromate and Baking Powder, 11,392 Cartons of 1200 per Carton Armcol Injection Chiproquine Phosphate 322.5mg/5ml (IV and IM), 206,000 pieces of finished machetes 1383 cartons of 50 rolls per carton of cigarettes, 650 cartons of 50 pieces per carton of New Ladies Shoes, 2.666 pieces in 36 pallets of New Starter Ex-Premium Inverter Battery, 1980 cartons of Assorted Non-Alcoholic beverages and 1048 Cartons of Tilde Basmatic Rice.
“Others include 2594 pieces of ammunition and 20 pieces of arms comprising of 1 Pistol with 611090 (S/W) model JCP 40mm, 1 Used Co2 Air Pistol with accessories cal 117(4.5m) BM, 1 Marksman repeater pistol, & Mace pepper gun and 10 suspected arms of various Types,” he said.
Comptroller Oloyede said the seizure record when compared with the 2021 record of 27 seizures with a DN of 607,267,617.00) shows an increase of 11 seizures and one N1.2billion.
According to him, the increase in DPV rate could be associated with increased surveillance and intensified anti-smuggling drive, high value of seized items and the Naira-Dollar depreciation which leads to high exchange rate on imported items.
“These prohibited items were seized and forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria in line with the provision of sections 46 and 161 of the Customs & Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45 LFN 2004 and Absolute Prohibition List of CET 2022 2026. The Command pertinently acknowledges the prominent roles played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, Valuation Unit, FOU, CGC Strike Force as well as interventions of sister regulatory agencies like the NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, SON, the Nigeria Police and others in ensuring these seizures and detentions were made,” he said.
In the area of export, the Customs boss said the Command recorded significant increase in the FOB of exports in the period under review to the tune of $589,696,648 (N242,365,322,333.00) as against the $496,075,796 (N141,985,109,159.00) recorded in the year 2021.
This represents an improvement on the FOB by 34.4% and this increase is attributed to the high quality and value of the exported commodities.
“However, the export report shows a decrease in tonnage of export from 1,723,986:8 in 2021 to 336,179.5 in 2022. The decrease in tonnage could be connected to current government fiscal policy which prohibited the export of wood and wood products as well as the global unrest with its concomitant economic challenges,” he said.
The commodities exported through the Command include Cocoa Beans, Insecticides, Dried Ginger, Empty Bottles, Soya Beans, Cashew Nuts, Cigarettes, Rubbers, Cocoa Butter, Frozen Shrimps, Copper Ingots, Aluminium Ingots, Sesame Seeds and other manufactured items.
He explained that cocoa Beans were the highest exported commodity while Legend Stout was the least exported commodity.
While expressing appreciation to officers of the command for their contribution to the success achieved in the out-gone year, the CAC appealed that the Command continue to work as a team in order to achieve greater heights in 2023.
