Various formations of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) worked hard to achieve their mandates in the first quarter of 2023 amid election hurdles.
By Innocent Chukwu
The first quarter of the year 2023 posed a challenge to the various commands’ and formations of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) across the country in achieving their official mandates, especially in the area of revenue generation due to the general election of February 25 and March 18. The general election was perceived to have slowed down economic activities including the import and export of cargoes into and out of the country.
Amid the challenge posed by the election which is a norm globally, the commands put up extra efforts as were visible in the records of their performances to generate billons of naira into the Federation Account and others. Their anti-smuggling activities also got some boost as numerous smuggled items were intercepted to deter the activities of economic saboteurs who go by the name of smugglers.
At the Apapa Area 1 command, Lagos where Comptroller Auwal Muhammed holds sway as the Area Controller (CAC), the Command collected the sum of two hundred and twelve billion, five hundred and ninety-two million, six hundred and eighty thousand, seven hundred naira, ninety -nine Kobo (N212,592,680,700.99) between the months of January and March 2023.
The command has also intercepted 143,800,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg which were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tonnes (10.386kg) that originated from India.
Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed who made this disclosure at a press briefing in Apapa on Tuesday, April 4 stated that the tramadol consignment was uncovered on Friday, March 31, 2023, concealed in 2x40ft container with numbers; TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803
According to him, this single seizure is valued at N21,600,000,000.00.
Speaking on the other anti-smuggling prowess of the command, Comptroller Auwal maintained that within the period under review, the command made seizures of fourteen (14) containers comprising of prohibited goods such as Vegetable oil, footwear, used clothing, unprocessed woods and tramadol tablets with a Duty Paid Value of N22,099,618,111.
Comptroller Mohammed said that “We are on the lookout for those behind such unlawful importation for arrest and very soon, we will track them down to face the full wrath of the law. As a Service, we owe Nigerians a duty to prevent this kind of importation from entering the market to safeguard the health of the citizenry.
“Let me use this opportunity to warn perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion, and other forms of criminality frowned upon by the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA and other extant laws, that Apapa command will only facilitate legitimate trade.”
On export, Comptroller Mohammed said the command processed agricultural goods including Sesame seeds, ginger, Hibiscus, mineral resources, steel ingots and others with a total tonnage of 110,448 metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2023.
He added that statistics from the export report showed that the exported goods were worth N70,200,829,358,67 which he said was equivalent to Free On Board, FOB value of $159,845,232.84.
Speaking on engagement and inter-agency collaboration, Comptroller Mohammed pointed out that since assumption of office in the command in January this year, he had been meeting with various stakeholder groups comprising importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders and others, saying “I am to note that these meetings are yielding good result and will be sustained in the days ahead.”
He insisted that Apapa command had a deliberate culture of inter-agency collaboration with other government agencies noting that within the last three months, he had enjoyed robust sharing of credible intelligence and support from other agencies of government.
At the Port and Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Command also in Apapa, Lagos, the Comptroller AM Ibrahim – led Area Command collected a total revenue of N43,721,215,776.75 for the first quarter of 2023.
The Command also recorded increase in the compliance level of importers, exporters and licensed customs agents following sustained sensitization embarked on by Comptroller Ibrahim.
A month by month break down of the collection showed improvement in March 2023 above the figures of January and February generated by the Command, this year. In January, the command collected N14,748,081,466.31; February collection was a total of N13,129,893,878.68 while March collection was N15,843,240,431.76
Addressing senior officers of the Command at a recent meeting, Comptroller Ibrahim expressed optimism that there will be steady improvement in latter parts of the year with strategies put in place.
The CAC said there is a conscious drive to continually block suspected areas of revenue leakages while enlisting more support of all government agencies and private sector operators in ensuring high level of compliance.
He commended the officers for their application of knowledge acquired through training and experience in detecting some areas of revenue shortfalls for which demand notices were issued to recover N477.8m between January and March 2023
On anti-smuggling, the Command made two seizures worth N10,487,800 (DPV) when it intercepted and seized 2x40ft containers marked ACLU9664782 and ACLU9715690 laden with 2,598 pieces of used motor tyres; 18 pieces of used washing machines and fridges, used mattresses and other used household items.
On export, a total of 1,932 containers were processed through PTML in the period under review weighing a total tonnage of 38,137.66 with free on board (FOB) value of $48,006,020.41 which is equivalent to N20,272,942,419.14 at exchange rate of N422.3 to $1
Export items through the command include cocoa beans, sesame seeds, hibiscus flower, dried ginger, noodles, beverages, cosmetics and others.
Under Comptroller Ibrahim, the command achieved a major milestone by obtaining access to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Trade Monitoring System (TRMS) portal. This online access now makes inspection of declaration easier and faster.
For trade facilitation, since the command deals more on Roll on Roll off (vehicular) cargoes, it became imperative to assist in removing some traffic obstacles on the port access route.
There is a remarkable improvement in the conduct of examination by officers, hence, preserving the record 4-hour clearance time of vehicles for compliant declarants.
The well-being of officers on duty has also received a boost with the establishment of a fully equipped clinic to address health matters at work.
The CAC thanked the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, CFR for his unwavering support, mentoring examples and motivation which contribute to the progress of PTML Command
At the export seat, the Lilypond, Lagos Export Seat processed N86.4 billion worth of export.
The newly established Lilypond Export Command processed non-oil export with a total tonnage of 118,184.96.
According to the Controller of the command, Comptroller Babandede Mohammed who addressed the press recently, available trade statistics show that the command processed export goods worth N86,426,279,070.59 which is equivalent to free-on-board value (FOB) of $204,656,119.04.
This is even as exporters have commended Comptroller Babandede for coming to their rescue, especially as it concerns theft and pilfering of export cargoes.
Exporters lost more than 600 metric tonns of Cocoa in 2017 alone due to theft and pilfering through the traffic jam.
Meanwhile, the Controller noted that the items processed are agricultural produce like Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nuts, Sesame seeds, Hibiscus flower, Soya beans and Ginger as well as mineral resources such as Lithium Ore, Manganese Ore, and Zircon Sand to mention but a few.
He added that manufactured goods exported include Instant Noodles, Cosmetics, Cigarettes and Beverages.
Comptroller Babandede hinted that despite Lilypond being a new command, it has recorded some achievements.
According to him, the command has drastically reduced delays in export processing and makes the business of export effective and efficient since all agencies are domiciled in one place as a one-stop shop.
He also stated that It has reduced congestion along the access roads to the port and also inside the port terminals, giving space for Import containers.
“It has reduced cost of Export business. It has reduced the issue of contract cancellation.
“The issue of pilfering of cargo has been eliminated. Released containers can access the port within 48hrs for loading onto awaiting vessels. The command in collaboration with shipping lines have reduced the turnaround time of a vessel which decreases the cost of shipping.
“Lilypond Export Command has completely erased the issue of rejection and return of our Agro-produce which is usually caused by delay and lack of requisite phytosanitary certificates,” he stated.
On interagency collaboration/stakeholders engagements, the controller hinted that the command has excellent inter-agency collaboration with other government agencies.
He appreciated the Nigerian Ports Authority for coming up with the concept of Export Processing Terminals (EPTs) and providing all the necessary support to the Command.
The controller also commended the patriotic role of other sister agencies who have always partnered with him in the quest to effectively perform the statutory functions in compliance with extant laws.
“Since the establishment of this Command, I have been meeting with various stakeholders comprising Terminal Operators, Exporters, Licensed Agents, Freight Forwarders, and Shipping Lines.
“May I use this medium to reassure our stakeholders that Lilypond Export Command will continue to facilitate their legitimate trade.
“On this note, I want to humbly extend my profound appreciation to the CGC, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) CFR and his Management team for their continuous support.
“I also want to commend my officers and men of the command for their contributions to the successes achieved so far and appeal to them to double their efforts in order to achieve greater heights in the coming months,” he said.
The over N10 billion revenue recorded at the Kiri-Kiri Lighter Terminal Command, Lagos, indicated that serious efforts were made by the officers and men to ensure appreciable revenue generation amid the general election challenges.
The KLT Command under the Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi generated a whopping N10,572,518,271 as revenue for the first quarter of year 2023.
This amount represents 76.87% of its expected revenue for the quarter.
The Command is saddled with the responsibility of trade facilitation, revenue generation and the enforcement of fiscal policy with an anticipated revenue target of N55 Billion for the current year (2023).
Since Comptroller Bomodi assumed duty at the command, he has been making serious efforts to increase revenue through encouraging shipping companies and other critical stakeholders who had up to this period overlooked the command as a strategic destination of choice for incoming and outgoing cargoes.
The Customs boss while speaking in the area of importation for the first quarter, said “While we acknowledge the impact of monetary policy changes and the effect of exchange rates on business, the overall effect has been a downturn in import volume, hence the Command’s performance.
“However, all hands are on deck to safeguard and protect all revenue accruable from import and export trade, to this effect Demand Notices to the tune of N68.5m has been raised to shore up the shortfall in revenue”
On export, he said “Prior to this period, KLTC was used as a transit hub for exports. However, since the establishment of an export processing terminal, all export procedures have since commenced in the Command with an anticipated uptick in export volume.
“The first quarter of 2023 also saw the establishment of a clinic for the Command which was commissioned by the ACG Zone ‘A’ on behalf of the CGC, this has significantly contributed to the well-being of Officers as all health-related challenges are given prompt attention before they are referred to other facilities.
“Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command has a strategic advantage over other ports in Lagos, its unique location allows for immediate entry and exit, unlike other ports where there is an average waiting time of seven days. Its major impediment is the draft which restricts the direct berth of sea-going vessels.
“This challenge has recently been overcome with the introduction of ocean-going lighter barges with the capacity of moving over 200 TEU’s”.
Anti-Smuggling
Within the first quarter of 2023, the Federal Operations Unit FOU), Zone “A” Ikeja said while deploying its strategy of being ahead of smugglers to burst their game of concealment, false declaration, under payment and duty evasion, the command recorded the seizures of 6,228 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice which is an equivalent of 11 trailer loads, 35,325 Litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), 279 cartons of foreign poultry products, 105 parcels of Cannabis sativa of 50k each, 2/40 ft containers of used clothes bearing 883 bales of the outlawed import, as well as eight units of foreign used vehicles.
According to Deputy Controller Hussein Ejibunu who is the acting CAC of the command the seizures were worth over N694.462 million DeputyPaid Value (DPV). Acting Controller Ejibunu also disclosed that the FOU Zone A which main focus is on anti-smuggling, recorded a revenue collection of N72.7 million from imported items which duties were short paid.
Ejibunu has remained steadfast in securing the nation against the influx of unwanted imports into the country for which many stakeholders are calling for his automatic promotion to the rank of an Assistant Comptroller General (ACG), and the conferment of a national honour on him. According to stakeholders, he has surpassed all his predecessors at the command in the volume of seizures the command had recorded since it was established.
The Western Marine Command, Ibafon, Lagos also put up an impressive performance in the first quarter of 2023, as a press statement signed by MA Magaji, a Superintendent of Customs and the image maker of the command indicated. Within the period, the command achieved 15 seizures which cumulative DPV amounted to over N110 million.
These included 1,519 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 8,825 litres of PMS contained in 468 kegs of 25 litres each, 700 pairs of foreign used shoes among others. The Western Marine Command said it also received four additional operation boats which consist of two gun boats and two logistics boats from the customs management on March 28 and April 3, 2023 respectively.
Comptroller OA Salefu, CAC of the command said. “All actions of our operatives is in line with the provisions of Section 149 (power to patrol freely) of the Customs and Excise management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 as amended.”
