As part of strategies to realize the N1.13 trillion target set for Tin Can Island Command of Nigeria Customs Service by its management for the year 2024, the command will henceforth descend heavily on any officer found to release cargo with infractions.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, its Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, noted that all hands must be on deck to realize the target.
The controller stated that the command, which collected N716 billion revenue in 2023 out of the over N801 billion target given to it last year, is expected to collect One Trillion, One Hundred and Thirty billion, seven hundred and sixty eight million, fifty one thousand, eight hundred and eighty one naira (N1,130, 768,051,881.29) this year and therefore called on shippers and freight forwarders to improve on their level of compliance even as releasing officers must be very thorough in ensuring no infractions.
Nnadi stated emphatically that officers who release cargo and are later found to have compromised will not go unpunished.
Giving a breakdown of how the command can
meet with the target, he stated that the command
is expected to generate Ninety four billion, two hundred and thirty million, six hundred and seventy thousand, nine hundred and ninety Naira, eleven kobo every month and Twenty One billion, six hundred and sixty six million, two hundred and twenty seven thousand, two hundred and sixteen naira, twelve kobo every week.
Since stakeholders (importers and their agents) will generate the revenue, he announced that the command has declared Year 2024 as Stakeholders Year.
To this end, Nnadi stressed that the command is poised to prioritize stakeholders engagement with regular sensitization exercise to promote trade facilitation in order to collect expected revenue.
The controller expressed optimism that the target was achievable, saying that there was no cause for panic.
On the command’s performance last year, he stressed that the command deployed capacity building for officers and stakeholders as one of the tools to achieve its mandate.
According to him, the deployment of ICT helped the command to optimize its efficiency last year.
He informed that the 24 hours and weekend port operations started in 2023 will be strengthened this year to improve on cargo clearance period.
Comptroller Nnadi While applauding officers of the command as well as stakeholders for their cooperation in generating the N716 billion in 2023, warned that he would not hesitate to deal decisively with those who are not willing to be compliant.
He encouraged Nigerians to go into exportation for the survival of the Nigerian economy.