The new Zonal Coordinator Zone A, ACG Saidu Yusuf, visited the Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command of Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday, 24th July, 2024.
The visit fell in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of the service, Adewale Adeniyi MFR, which is anchored on engagements and consolidation.
ACG Yusuf was very impressed with the performance of officers and men of the command with the spectacular seizures and rising revenue being generated.
He also lauded the command’s pilot status for Time Release Study (TRS) which has no doubt brought improvement to cargo clearance time at the command.
The zonal coordinator praised the Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, for his diligence and hard work.
According to ACG Yusuf, Comptroller Nnadi has
been up and doing on his game especially in seizures of arms and ammunition, drugs and also in revenue.
He enjoined the untiring controller not to relent in ensuring that he follows the laid down processes.
He equally urged officers and men of the command not to relent in their efforts at ensuring thoroughness in the discharge of their duty.
The Zonal Coordinator announced that 18 officers at the Command, including the Command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Okwara, have been listed for Commendation Letters for their distinguished service.
He expressed the need to intensify examination of cargoes which he described as the only issue that’s yet to be optimized in the NCS at present.
His words: “Proper examination has to be conducted. Apart from security, as Customs officers we also safeguard the health of the nation. If these narcotics and harmful substances pass through us, it goes into the Nigerian market.”
He therefore encouraged the officers not to allow anyone to lure with financial inducement that can affect their sense of judgement.
He also spoke on the state of the nation amid planned protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), urging officers to be security conscious and protect the NCS assets.
In his speech, the Area Controller, Comptroller Nnadi, disclosed that the command has collected over N669 billion revenue as at the morning of July 24th, 2024.
Nnadi pointed out that the 2024 revenue generated so far represents over 93 per cent of the entire sum for 2023 which was N716 billion.
He was full of hope that the command will realize its N1.4 trillion revenue target for 2024, but noted that non-standard VIN valuation remains a challenge for some stakeholders who have vehicles as the mainstay of their revenue.
He added that PAAR isn’t also embraced by some freight forwarders on behalf of their clients.
He wished that more enlightenment campaigns are organized to increase stakeholders’ understanding and acceptance of PAAR.
PAAR, according to the controller, doesn’t only serves as an accounting tool for the revenue generated by Customs but equally serves as a security tool to monitor the kind of cargoes coming into the nation and it functions as a trade data available for business persons.
Nnadi expressed his appreciation to the Zonal Coordinator over the Zonal Headquarters’ decision to reward 18 officers of the Command, even as he extended his gratitude to the Customs CG, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his regular support to the command.
PHOTO: L-R: Zonal Coordinator Zone A, ACG Saidu Yusuf and the Area Controller, Tin Can Island Port Customs Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni; when the Zonal Coordinator paid his maiden visit to the TCIP Command on Wednesday.