The new Controller of Tin Can Customs Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, who was redeployed from Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) SEME command has also promised to ensure that the Command revenue figures that stands at 52% will be raised in totality by the remaining few days left in the year 2023
Business Hilights reports that Nnadi stamped an outstanding performance in the area of revenue collection while serving at Seme.
The intelligent officer gave this assurance today 14th day of September 2023, during the handing over ceremony that took place between him and the outgoing controller, Comptroller Kunle Oloyede and it was witnessed by the entire management team of command , stakeholders and members of the press at the command’s conference room at Tin Can Island in Lagos.
The CAC officially resumed at his new duty post today with a promise to raise the command’s revenue collection from its current 52 percent to 100 percent by December 2023.
Nnadi solicited the support and collaboration of stakeholders to enable the command meet its over N801billion annual revenue target. He said with barely three months to the end of the year and the challenge posed by the floating of the exchange rate, the task ahead is daunting but expressed hope of surmounting it with the support and cooperation of stakeholders.
According to him, “For us as a command, it is a daunting task but it is surmountable. You are all aware that Nigeria Customs Service has three key performance indicators – revenue, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation. These three serve as yardsticks for measuring our performance.
These indicators will always remain relevant in our discussion until we attain full development as a nation”.
“The command revenue target of over N801billion currently stands at 52 percent with barely three months to the end of the year. It means that all of us here hold the country a responsibility to collect the balance of 48 percent, especially at a time when the floating exchange rate is affecting importers and indirectly affecting clearing agents.
“This is big but achievable task. “Similarly, our roles in securing the nation are vast ranging from intervention against economic saboteurs who disrupt and take advantage of the nation’s trade policy”.
He said that it also includes those who contribute to the insecurity of the country through the importation of illicit goods.
However, He affirmed to rebrand the command, but warned that the command under his leadership will not tolerate undue interference in trade matters noting that stakeholders including clearing agents and terminal operators must respect Customs mandate as a Service.
“Everybody here, freight forwarders, terminal operators and shipping companies and other government agencies have their various mandates. We will not tolerate undue interference with any other person’s privacy. Incursions by other people in trade matters have to stop. If we agree to equity, we must come with clean hands,” he said.
He promised to run an open-door policy to legitimate traders but shut his doors against fraudulent importers whose desire is to shortchange the government of its revenue, illicit importation and smuggling.
Giving his remarks, Comptroller Oloyede urged officers and stakeholders including sister agencies to extend the same support and collaboration given to him to the new Controller, whom he described as a trade facilitator to enable him succeed and achieve the command’s revenue target. While urging clearing agents to improve their level of compliance,
Oloyede urged them to also extend intelligence shared with the command in its anti-smuggling operation that led to the seizure of two containers of tramadol to the new controller.
His words, ” I know we are already in the ember months, so the incoming controller will need your support to be able to meet the revenue target and I know he is going to break my records. I also promise to give my support as Controller in charge of import and export and ensure that by God’s grace, he succeeds.
“When I came here, we tried all we could do, deployed several tools to make our work easier. Before leaving, we made a seizure that the Service saw as a commendable seizure and about nine officers were given letters of commendation.
“This showed that this command is doing well and it is because of your support and the intelligence you shared with us that made our efforts to be commended. So, we urge you to extend the same to the new CAC,” he said.
