Customs exceeds half year revenue target, generates 2.742 trillion, makes 27.5b daily – Niagwan

…Countless lives have been saved by many of customs’ seizures- NASS

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerian Customs Service(NCS) has said the insight and guidance the House Committee on Customs and Excise has brought into oversight function have inspired it to generate N2.742trillion in the first half of 2024 above it’s target.

The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade of the Nigeria Customs Service, DCG Caroline Niagwan made the revelation at the customs headquarters in Abuja last Wednesday when the House Committee on Customs and Excise visited the service.
She said the generated sum surpassed the first half of the year’s expected revenue target of 2.539trillion naira, representing 54 percent of the revenue target for 2024.
Reeling out to the chairman of the committee, Hon. Leke Abejide, and other members of the committee revenue exploits of the service, she said, “In the period under review, the average daily revenue collection has been 27.5 billion naira daily, surpassing the target of 19.460 billion naira.

“The service has achieved a 126.64 percent increase within the first half of the year due to teamwork and measures put in place to block revenue leakages. We have an outstanding 2.168 trillion to collect.”

Naigwan revealed that for the service to align with international best practices, trade facilitation tools have been upgraded to Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programs where reliable and compliant traders are rewarded for taking their goods with little or no customs control when they meet specific safety and security standards.
Haranguing the team on achievements and challenges on war on smuggling, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Bello Jibo, who said ‘Operation Whirlwind’ a team initiated to check excesses of smugglers, had made a lot of seizures of petroleum products. Stated that NCS is collaborating with the NNPC for greater result.

“On the issue of security, the CGC held a press conference in Onne, Port-Harcourt, where a container fully loaded with arms and ammunition was arrested by our officers, which was later handed over to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). We collaborate and exchange intelligence among ourselves to enhance our activities.’’ DCG Jibo stated.

Further to that the Assistant-Comptroller General in charge of Information and Communication Technology, Kikelomo Adeola, revealed that unit officers built the application for the e-auction. She stated that capacity-building programs are ongoing as part of the deliverables of the Trade Modernization Project, in addition to the provision of software and hardware components of the exercise
Earlier, the comptroller General of Customs(CGC) Adewale Adeniyi had thanked the chairman and his team, stated that the presence of the House committee underscores the critical role that legislative oversight plays in ensuring the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of NCS operations and project implementation.
Hon. Leke Abejide, Chairman House Committee on Customs and Excise, however applauded the outstanding revenue generation, trade facilitation and the Service’s recent achievements in the seizures of arms and ammunition in a Bonded Terminal in Onne Port, Rivers State and similar seizure at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos State.
Above feats he said were testament to Customs vigilance and effectiveness.
The seizures he added have potentially saved countless Nigerian lives, demonstrating the exceptional skills and dedication of NCS personnel in protecting the nation’s borders.
“Every weapon and illicit item seized is a victory, but every attempt to smuggle them into Nigeria is a call to redouble our efforts.”
Hon Abejide assured that his committee plans to probe the activities of Bonded Terminals.