Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, CAC, Tin Can Island Command.

The newly appointed Customs Area Controller in charge of Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni Thursday, officially assumed duty. He replaced Comptroller Steven Oloyede, who has been redeployed to Customs headquarters. Until Monday last week, Comptroller Nnadi was the CAC in charge of Seme Border Area Command.

Speaking with stakeholders shortly after taking over the reins of power, he observed that out of a total of N801billion revenue target for the 2023 fiscal year, the command has only collected N416.5billion between January to August, which represents 52per cent.

This, according to him is an indication that the command has barely three months (September-second week in December) to collect the remaining N384.5billion, which represents 48per cent, a task he described as daunting but achievable with the support and cooperation of all the stakeholders.

He also disclosed that the Seme Border Command, where is he coming from, out of a total of N1.96billion revenue target for the 2023 fiscal year, the command had collected about N1.94billion as at September 8, noting that the balance would have been collected since the last week he had been away for official assignment in Abuja.

It was gathered that the current the floating foreign exchange rate regime in the country is taking its toll on importers and exporters, a development that worsens the challenge but the new CAC is positive that though this is a big task, but it is achievable provided everyone plays according to the rule of the game.

He however warned that the command under his watch would leave no stone unturned in delivering on the tripod statutory mandate of the service in terms of revenue collection, anti-smuggling, efficient and effective service, which is also called trade facilitation, adding that anyone that wants to remain a friend of the command should cooperate with it in these three core areas.

“I want to thank you all for welcoming me back to Tin Can Island Port Command as I assume duty as the 20th Area Controller since the inception of the command in 1977. It is always a pleasure to be in your midst to continue the reforms of the maritime industry from both my personal perspective and that of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“The dynamism of the industry requires that we join forces as stakeholders to provide solutions to our individual and collective needs. The next phase of this assignment starts this morning as we all commit to lead from the front.

“For us as a command, it is a daunting but surmountable task.  As you are all aware, Nigeria Customs Service has three key performance indicators, which are revenue collection, anti-smuggling, and service delivery, often referred to as facilitation of trade. These three serve as yardstick for measuring her performance.

 “These indicators will always remain relevant in our economic discourse until we attain full development as a nation. It is more so for Tin Can Command, especially now. The command’s revenue target of over N801billion currently stands at 52 per cent, with barely three months to the end of the year 2023, meaning we must collect 48per cent of the remaining revenue.

“Coming at a time, the floating exchange rate is affecting importers and exporters, this is a big but achievable task. Similarly, our roles in securing the nation are vast, ranging from interventions against economic saboteurs, who distort and take advantage of the nation’s trade policy. These also include those that import illicit goods that contribute to the insecurity in the country.

“I want to commend the outgoing Controller and officers of the command for the recent seizure of two containers of tramadol. We will sustain the fight against importation of illicit and unapproved drugs. I will open my doors for seamless trade, but I will also close the doors against unwholesome activities that will compromise the service mandates”, he said emphatically.

The new Controller also drew the stakeholders’ attention to a new agreement between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin Customs, which requires that the government agencies and other port stakeholders must improve on service delivery to make the ports competitive with their peers in the sub-region. He therefore sought the cooperation of every stakeholder including the shipping lines and terminal operators in achieving this.

“Distinguished audience, just two days ago the Customs Administrations of Nigeria and Benin signed an agreement to develop frameworks for clearing of Nigeria bound goods in Benin Ports and vice versa. This is a call for us to improve our business process and increase our efficiency in service delivery in order to be competitive with other ports in the sub-region.

“To this end, I will particularly request the cooperation of shipping companies, terminal operators and other government agencies in our efforts towards ensuring the actualisation of the rebranding of the command. In line with this, I will essentially request that we respect our various mandates. Those concerned with regulatory functions should stay away from interference in revenue related transactions except it is in their mandate to do so. Hopefully, this will improve service delivery at the Tin Can Port”, he also said.