Intensified capacity building spurs Tincan Customs to N262bn in 11 months
The Nigeria Customs Service Tincan Island Command has generated a total of 262.3 billion between January and November 2017. The figure is against the sum of 233.5 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2016.
A comparative analysis of the figures above indicates a difference of N28,803,740,729.42, representing a significant increase from the amount generated in 2016.
The commands Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf gave the insights while receiving a delegation of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) Post Mortem Sub-Committee recently in his office.
The Delegation comprising very Senior Government Officials from Key Revenue generating ministries and Parastatals was led by its chairman Mr. Casmir Anyanwu.
In his address, the chairman pointed out that the primary objective of the committee is to examine across board into the Federation Account, in which case the account that Services the three tiers of Government with a view to ensuring that all accruable revenue to the Federal Government Coffers is duly accounted for – Federal, State and Local. He stated that the committee, as part of its oversight function, had the mandate of the Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) to visit Customs Commands, to ascertain their strength, weaknesses and challenges with a view to appropriately advising the Federal Government on their findings.
The chairman described Tincan Port as a major gate way to the Resources of the Country and therefore very Key to the Nigerian Project.
In his address of welcome, the Customs Area Controller expressed appreciation with the visit and stated that the timing was apt considering the fact that the Country is gradually sliding out of recession and the need to sustain the tempo. He stated emphatically that the Command have made significant and steady progress in the areas of her core functions in the past eighteen (18) months.
Yusuf averred them of the various reforms he instituted shortly after assumption of duty, which included but not limited to the construction of a training facility with thirty (30) workstations to take care of the training needs of not just the officers but also other critical stakeholders. He pointed out that the Command have started reaping the benefits of such trainings in terms of the volume of Revenue generated over the period and level of compliance by traders with regards to the fiscal policies.
“We recorded remarkable seizures of cocaine with a street value of over 2billion according to report from NDLEA, handed over stolen exotic SUV’S to Interpol Nigeria for onward repatriation to U. S. A, seizure of catche of arms (pump action riffles totaling 2,010 which eventually necessitated the recent visit of Mr. President to Turkey with other top government officials to see ways of curbing the menace”.
While exchanging opinions on what the Government can do to enhance the efficiency of the Command in Revenue Generation, the Controller opined that infrastructural upgrade (Road Networks to the Port) scanners and other equipment will surely enhance the output of the Service.
The Controller assured the committee that the Command will not lower its guards in all aspects of her statutory functions and promised to raise the standards of operation through renewed enthusiasm and deeper commitment from the officers/men of the Command.
In their remarks, the delegation expressed delight at the achievements of the Command in the past 18 months, having gone through the financial records particularly in the areas of consistent progress in Revenue Generation, capacity building for officers/men of the Command as well as Remarkable seizures.
