According to the Tin-Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), it generated N78.8 Billion Naira in the first quarter of 2019, indicating upward generation from the N76.7 billion realized in the corresponding period of 2018. The Area Controller of the Service, Mohammed Musa, made this known on Sunday, 28th of April, 2019 during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos. He added that the Command projected an income of N84 billion during the period under review but it generated about 94 per cent of its target.
In his further comment, Musa stressed that the command was given a target of N343 billion for 2019, saying that it surpassed the target for two months but the election holidays affected the revenue in March 2019
Also, the Area Controller disclosed that the Command is working hard to boost the revenue and surpassed the revenue generated in 2018.
According to him, the Command is committed to the transformation of revenue collection and reporting system with the implementation of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System(NICIS).
More so, he added that there is a remarkable improvement in compliance in the command, mostly because of the policies and directive from the Headquarters of the Service, insisting on 100 per cent examination of imported cargo with regard to the protection of the environment.
In the same vein, the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs (CGC), retired Col. Hameed Ali, has also directed that all pharmaceutical products must be cleared from the ports, meaning that there should be no movement of pharmaceutical products to the outside terminal.
Meanwhile, the directive was made to control the influx of Tramadol and other related goods imported into the country.
The Command also intercepted used tyres, second-hand clothing and six containers of foreign parboiled rice in the period under review.
Musa also reiterated that the Command would work hard to make the second quarter revenue generation better than the first quarter of the year 2019.
The Command boss revealed that there were relative peace and calm in the Command due to the high-level engagement, adding that his doors are open to explanation and to entertain any sort of complaint at all times.
Relative to the improved revenue generation, Musa disclosed that the command has created a competitive environment, saying that it had few arrests in the period under review and the suspects are helping the Customs Service as well as other relevant Security Agencies involved in the course of investigations so as to unravel the real culprits as well as their local and foreign collaborators.
