Customs Area Controller, Tin Island Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni

The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded an impressive revenue performance for the first quarter of 2024, which grew by 139per cent surplus over its revenue target for the first quarter.

Recall that the command was given a revenue target of N1.13trillion for the 2024 fiscal year. This implies that command is expected to collect N94.23billion on a monthly basis, N21.7billion weekly and N4.32billion daily, which the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni had then described as ‘a no mean task, but surmountable’.

Available statistics released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Okwara, show that a total of N303.9billion revenue was collected by the command under the review period as against the N126.9billion collected in the comparative period of 2023. This represents a surplus of ₦177.1billion when compared the 2023 figures and 139per cent when compared to the targeted quarterly revenue of N282.69million.

Meanwhile the command also recorded an impressive non-oil export drive within the review period, as it handled a total of 251,679.89metric tonnes of non-oil exports as against the 145, 906.33 metric tonnes handled in the comparative period of 2023, representing a growth rate of 95.3per cent.

A monthly breakdown of the command’s revenue figures shows that a total of ₦88.43billion was collected in the month of January 2024, representing a 107.9per cent upscale when compared to the 42.53billion collected in the same period of January 2023.

In the month of February 2024, the command generated N100.39billion, representing 141.8per cent higher than the value collected in the same period of 2023 which stood at ₦41.51billion while the command recorded N115.10billion, which represents a growth rate of 163.9per cent when compared to the N42.80billion collected in the comparative period of March, 2023.

Also, a breakdown of its export figures in the period under review show that in addition to growing export volumes by 95.3 per cent, the command also recorded exponential growth in terms of the Free On Board FOB value of the export non-oil products, which rose by over 300per cent.

Further details show that the FOB value of the products rose from N80.99billion in the first quarter of 2023 to N287.79billion, which represents over 300per cent increase. The non-oil exports shipped through the command during the period under review cover mostly agriculture and allied produce including Coca-Butter, Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nuts etc.

Reacting to this impressive performance, the CAC said: “I sincerely wish to congratulate officers and men of the command for embracing service delivery for our stakeholders and for teamwork which resulted to the Area Command surpassing its first quarter revenue target for 2024 by N177.1billion. All efforts put in place by all units within the Area Command for this success recorded are highly appreciated.”

On enforcement and anti-smuggling activities, the command seized a total of 57 packets of Heroine weighing 56.390kg with a street value of ₦902. 24million, 3612 packets of Colorado Indica weighing 956.772kg with a street value of ₦4.06million. All the seized illicit drugs have been handed over to the relevant sister agencies as directed by the management of the service.

Comptroller Nnadi said: “The command’s enforcement and anti-smuggling unit has not relented in its efforts to combat snuggling and all forms of criminality. Customs being the lead agency at the seaports, through its Enforcement Unit has coordinated several 100 per cent physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure that the command is freed of any forms of non-compliance in line with the international trade cycle.

“Going forward, the Area Command will continue to put in more efforts towards better performance. We are optimistic that with the content of digitalisation of all Customs processes and procedures based on the modernisation agenda of the service, we will achieve more in our responsibilities.”

He however expressed profound appreciation for the support and clear sense of direction from the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and the management team for their relentless and continuous efforts towards strengthening the capacity of the Service and introducing innovative methods to perform its statutory responsibilities in line with international best practices.