In Nigeria’s wobbling economy, if the right, credible and disciplined experts were put in the right positions, things would not have fallen apart as they are today. This is the thinking of many Nigerian analysts, including the business gurus in the shipping and maritime business sector.
Bringing this line of thinking home to the shipping industry, many maritime business experts insist that there are still some hidden revenues the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) must diligently and dutifully search for and recover in order to reach its revenue target of N5.1 trillion for the year 2024.
Such hidden revenues, most of which the analysts claim they enter the wrong hands and elude Federal Government’s purse, can only be recovered, according to them, when only the very best –selfless and disciplined Comptrollers – is deployed to man the revenue-generating Commands within the Service, and apply genuine interest in ensuring that all loose ends are tightened up.
In this regard, two distinctive, charismatic and highly rated Comptrollers’ names were linked with the ability and temerity to go in search of the hidden treasures that analysts think can increase customs revenue generation this year. Comptrollers Dr Babatunde Olomu and Hussein Ejibunu happened to fit into the description of many stakeholders as having the capability and guts to step into the unknown discover the alleged hidden revenues.
Comptroller Olomu has successfully auctioned over 462 overtime vehicles via the online bidding process without any form of scandal, thus accumulating revenue of over N556.7 billion into the Federal Government coffers. Olomu also revamped the Delta Seaport, Warri, raising its revenue generation from less than N10 billion to over N30 billion in one year.
Comptroller Ejibunu has remained the smugglers’ nightmare in the South west Zone, ensuring that the Commands in the region plug all revenue leakages to achieve maximum revenue collection. The duo, analysts say, can do wonders when given higher assignment to generate revenue. Their disciplined approach to work makes up our Cover Story in this edition. Enjoy it.
