Comptroller Dera Nnadi’s revenue generating prowess glitters as the Tincan Island Customs Command where he superintends as the Customs Area Controller (CAC) achieves a whopping N575 billion revenue in the first six months of 2024
By Innocent Chukwu
At a period of dwindling importation occasioned by the harsh economic conditions in the country, the Tin Can Island Port Customs Command said it has recorded a revenue generation of N575.5 billion in the first half of 2024, marking a substantial increase of 221.13 per cent from the revenue of the command in the same period in 2023.
The revenue feat was revealed to the media by Comptroller Dera Nnadi, the Area Controller of the command during a media briefing at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria’s (MARAN) International Maritime Press Centre, Apapa, Lagos where he went on a working visit.
The CAC hinted that the command’s revenue collection surged by N315.2 billion compared to the first half of 2023, underscoring the Command’s commitment to its statutory functions of Revenue Generation, Trade Facilitation, and Enforcement/Anti-smuggling activities.
Comptroller Nnadi said, “TCIP achieved a revenue collection of Five Hundred and Seventy-Five Billion, Five Hundred and Five Million, Six Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Eight Hundred and Four Naira and Fifty-Nine Kobo only (N575,505,612,804.59). This is an improvement by N315, 248,670,683.90 billion and a 221.13 per cent increase from the 2023 First Half revenue collection of N260,256,942,120.69 billion.”
Nnadi also disclosed significant developments in the export sector, noting that commercial goods worth over N1.03 trillion were exported through Tin Can Island Ports, with notable contributions from commodities like Soya beans.
In the area of seizure and anti-smuggling, Dera disclosed that the command’s enforcement and anti-smuggling unit has not been relenting in its efforts to combat smuggling and all forms of criminality.
“Customs, being the lead agency at the Ports through its enforcement unit has coordinated several 100% physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure that the command is freed of any form of non-compliance to the international trade cycle,” he stated.
Some of the items seized include three plastic drums concealing several packets of Cannabis Indica, forty-six bags containing two thousand one hundred and forty-four packets of Cannabis Indica all weighing one thousand and seventy-two kilogrammes (1,072kg) imported from Canada.
The approximate street value of the illicit substances is N3, 216,000,000.00 valued at N3.216bn (Three Billion Two Hundred Sixteen Million Naira Only). The total Duty Paid Value of all seizures amounted to N8.9 billion.
He however pointed out that the significance of the seizures does not lie on the amount but the ability to stop the injection of those illicit drugs, arms and ammunitions into the country that are capable of wreaking havocs in the country.
Comptroller Nnadi attributed this success to collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders and emphasized the pivotal role of the Customs leadership in fostering operational excellence and adherence to international trade standards.
According to him, “We are grateful for the unwavering support from our stakeholders and the visionary leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, MFR. With continued dedication, we aim to achieve even greater milestones.”
As part of efforts to balance Nigeria’s foreign trade, Nnadi said his command also facilitated exports worth N1,032,601,044,744.00 at Tin Can Island Port (TCIP).
During the media briefing at Apapa, Nnadi said, “The total Free On Board (FOB) value of NXP for commercial goods exported through Tin Can Island Ports in the first half of 2024 is N1,032,601,044,744.00 and a total volume of 489,594.50 Metric Tons (MT) as against export value of 1st half 2023 of N182,333,764,943.00 with a total volume of 291,436MT.”
“In terms of value, Soyabeans was the highest export commodity worth N 92,059,078,980.00 while self adhesive was the lowest export commodity with a value of N17,560,865.00.”
According to the TCIP Customs boss, the high export figures for 2024 is attributable to the high degree of stakeholders engagement, accessibility of the Tin Can Island/ Mile 2 port access roads, improved efficiency from the Command’s officials, and other innovations.
Meanwhile, despite several challenges encountered in collating data, the Tincan Island Port cargo Time Release Study (TRS) is almost ready and baring any unforeseen circumstance, will be unveiled to the international trading community by next September. This was also disclosed by Comptroller Nnadi at the media briefing.
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) assisted TRS was launched at TICP in February 2024 to determine the length of time it would takes to clear a cargo at the port.
