Revenue target: Seme customs hits 97%, collects N1.9bn in 8 months

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Border Command said it has at September 8, 2023 generated 97.2per cent of the allotted revenue target to the command for the 2023 fiscal year.

To this end, it has within the aforementioned period, raked in the sum of N1,904,459,390.77 revenue (between January 23 and September 8, 2023).

The allotted monetary value to the command for the year is N1,960,000,000 representing an increase of 51.98% from the N885,543,098.11 made in the corresponding period for 2022.

This was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadii while briefing journalists in Lagos today as he showcased several high-profile seizures including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in excess of one tanker-load intercepted today.

“The revenue target for the Command for the year 2023 is One Billion Nine Hundred and Sixty Million Naira Only. As at this morning the 8th of September, 2023 the Command has collected One Billion Nine Hundred and Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Naira, Seventy Seven Kobo (N1,904,459, 390.77) only. This represents 97.2% of N1,960,000,000 allotted target for the year 2023.

“In the corresponding period under review for year 2022, the revenue was Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Million, Five Hundred and Forty Three Thousand, Ninety Eight Naira Eleven Kobo (N885,543,098.11) The implication is that the Commands revenue profile witnessed a tremendous increase of N1, 018,916, 292. 33 (51.98%).

“This was a result of painstaking efforts made by the leadership of the Command in partnership with our stakeholders to ensure compliance with our revenue generation agenda.

“In the area of anti-smuggling operation, you are already conversant with our past headline seizures (fake six million US dollars equivalent to two billion seven hundred million (N2.7 B) Naira). This is in addition to other notable seizures recorded between January and August 2023 and listed below:

Nine Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty Nine (9500) 50kg bags of rice equivalent to sixteen (16) trailer loads of foreign parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value of N312, 242, 064.93k.

13, 835 x 30 liters Jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit equivalent to 415, 050 liters or 13 petroleum tankers with Duty Paid Value of 738,276, 461k. 15,389 of General Merchandise Goods.