Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi has disclosed that the command aims at collecting N1,130,768,051,851 as revenue for 2024 while declaring that the year is dedicated to stakeholders
Nnadi who said this in Lagos at a press conference, expressed optimism in meeting the target with the cooperation of customs operatives and other stakeholders including importers, freight forwarders, haulage operators, the media and others.
He said the command has been mandated by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to engage all stakeholders in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and foster a culture of compliance that would lead to enhanced revenue collection and trade facilitation.
Giving a breakdown on how the revenue target would be achieved, Comptroller Nnadi said the command is aiming to generate 4,332,444,643.22 daily collection; 21,662,223,216.16 weekly and 94,230,670,990.11 monthly to meet up with the target.
He said the command started 2023 with enhanced recovery guidelines, mitigating the risks of non compliance, achieved automation of its bond seat and revamped the command’s dispute resolution committee
Comptroller Nnadi added that under his watch,the command has supported moves to decongest port corridors through regular engagement with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders in the logistics chain of the Lagos port corridor
On capacity building, Nnadi said the command aligned with the 2023 theme of International Customs Day which was ” Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs” to evolve a sustainable succession plan for the NCS.
While declaring 2024 as a year of the stakeholders in Tin Can Island Port, Nnadi lauded compliant importers, freight forwarders and their agents for contributing to the revenue collection strides of the command and urged all other port users emulate the virtue of compliance through sincere declaration and prompt duty payment.
He said “In the area of trade facilitation, the Command continues to provide a conducive environment for trade through continuous engagement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders and regulatory agencies of Government.
“The Command has had several meetings with stakeholders in 2023;
Meeting with fast track beneficiaries in the Command, addressing their challenges and opportunities for growth.
“Engagements with NPA and Terminal Operators on the need to decongest the port corridors for free flow of import laden containers.
“Collaboration of the Command with terminal operators on schedule and modalities on the overtime clearance of cargoes in TCIP.
The shipping lines in TCIP are constantly inundated on the need to guide their NICIS access as the incidence of fraudulent/double transmission of bill ladings has become too prevalent in recent times.
“Regular meetings with compliant and high net worth stakeholders like Crown Flour, Promasidor Nig Ltd, Hurlag Nig ltd, BUA etc. The Command encourages their businesses and proffer avenues for improvements in areas they need help.
“Additionally, the dispute settlement structure of the Command aligns with the provisions of the import duty mechanism outlined in paragraph (H) subparagraph (8) of the Import Guidelines, Procedure and Documentation Requirements which allows an importer to take delivery of his cargo in the case of persistent dispute after securing a bank bond, the total duties and taxes payable on the item being disputed” he said
In the area of Enforcement and Anti-smuggling activities of the Command, there were a total of 96 Detentions and 47 seizures made in 2023. The seizures include; 1264 packages weighing 473.50kg of Colorado (Cannabis Indica )with a street value of =N=118,381,184
concealed in various containers from 8 seizures, 10 sacks of used clothing and 5 used fridges with a DPV of =N=3,170,821in 1x40ft Container, DFSU 6858264. Other detentions are; 3028 pieces of matches, 435 Cartons of De Ruth Tomato Paste, Unregistered Pharmaceutical Products in 1x 40ft Containers, MRSU 5923970, MRKU 5534321 and MRSU 5923970 respectively. 7X40ft Containers containing Bulk Charcoal with a DPV of =N=24,769,161. Twelve (12) different Arms, Six (6) different pistols, Five Hundred (500) Ammunition of Different Caliber extracted from 1X40ft Container, CMAU 8834719. 58 Bags and 3 Bags of Used Shoes concealed in 1X40 ft TGBU 4466688 and 1X40 ft MEDU 7552832 respectively, 987 bales of used clothing extracted from 3 Containers, suspected concealment in 2X20 ft declared as gauze rolls, one (1) unit of Land Rover Discovery with Chassis number, SALCT2BG4FH527794, Suzuki Carry with Chassis number, MHYESL4152J115591, Mercedes Benz C300 WITH Chassis number, WDDGF8BB9AK093016S. In addition to the above, other detentions made include; supermarket items extracted from various containers, 32 packs of 50 pieces each of Toilet Paper, 531 cartons of pharmaceutical products and 80 cartons of beauty products.
Seizure was also made of 615 sacks of Water Buffalo Horns, 2500 Cartons of frozen poultry with a DPV of =N=47,365,957, 3642 Bags of Basmati Rice of 20kg each, household goods, arms and ammunition and military wears concealed in 1X20 ft Container, TGHU 0510362. The total DPV of the seized goods and street value of the narcotics amounted to =N=3,160,972,083.50.
Additionally, there were 50,297 containers with a breakdown of 15, 289 20ft containers, 34,55740ft containers and451 45ft containers used as means conveyance of goods through January to December, 2023 at Tincan Island Port. Also, there were 1,430 units of new vehicles and 4,342 units of used vehicles imported through the ports. In terms of revenue generation, the enforcement unit through painstaking efforts and interventions aided the Command through Demand Notices to the sum of =N=210,781,823.00.
In terms of Export, the total of tonnage of goods exported through Tincan island Port for the year under review in Metric Tonnes was 623,694.7 MT with a total F.O.B. of =N=489,221,453,693. Nnadi described it as an impressive growth with a notable increase of 85.5% in tonnage and 101.9% increase in FOB Value when compared to the year, 2022.
The products exported through the command in the year under review include;
Agricultural Products like Cocoa Beans, cashew Nuts, Sesame seeds, Soya Beans, Hibiscus Flower, etc.
Locally Manufactured Goods like Cosmetics, Hair Attachments, Indomie Noodles, Beverages, Cigarettes, and Insecticides.
Mineral Resources such as Lithium Ore, Tin Ore, Fluorite Ore, Aluminium Ingots and Lead Ingots and others.
Goods previously imported after the payment of 2.5% levy on the current value of the goods with government permission.Other various exports like Charcoal, Personal Effects, Items for Repair and Return.
He acknowledged the critical role played by the other customs units and sister agencies like the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation unit, Customs Strike force, Federal Operations Unit as well as interventions by sister regulatory agencies such as NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, SON, the Nigeria Police and others in making these seizures and detentions.
