Ngozi harps on post Covid19 recovery strategy

Ups revenue collection by 33%

Nigeria Customs Service Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Command, Compt. H.U Ngozi have said the service, particularly her command is poised to pursue a revenue recovery drive for the last quarter of the fiscal year 2020, to make up for lost grounds occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

She made above disclosure  while announcing revenue collection of Thirty Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety Million, Thirty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Twelve Naira, Seventy Kobo Only, N39,990,033,122.70, for the third quarter 2020.

Despite that the figure falls short of the allotted target of Sixty Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Million, Five Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty Six Naira, Ninety Three Kobo, N62, 848,518,366.93, the collection represents 33.3% increase over and above its revenue collection for the corresponding period 2019.

Ngozi said the command will strive to achieve the balance of the target before the end of the year, noting that the command has reorganized and well positioned to maximize revenue generations and drive recoveries within the final quarter of the year by deploying critical tools of engagement intended to regain whatever the corona virus pandemic made the command loss since its inception in March this year.

Notwithstanding the pandemic, she said the Command also recorded a total of 43 seizures and 25 detentions, with a total Duty Paid Value One Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty-Nine Naira, N152, 861,269 for the period under review, 21st July – 10th October 2020.

While particularly expressing her gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, retired and his management team, Ngozi said:

“At this critical stage, post COVID-19, era of economic recovery, the strategic contribution of the Nigeria Customs Service to economic revival is vital. Hence, the need to rebuild our economy through the collection of revenue accrued to the Government is paramount in the heart of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, rtd.”

She gave the breakdown of the seizures and detentions to include a truck containing 600 bags of NPK 12-12-17 2MgO fertilizer, over non possession of necessary regulatory document; in addition to the seizure of another 800 bags of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer.

The customs area controller explained that the product was seized after its owners failed to produce the required document within the stipulated 90 days grace period. The seizures also include a total of 2298 by 50kg bags of imported parboiled rice with Duty Paid Value of N97, 268,080.

Other items seized includes 314 units of used tyres with DPV of N3, 681,995; 26 kegs of 25 litres each of foreign parboiled rice with DPV of N530, 692; 20 kegs of 25 litres each of Vegetable Oil with a DPV of N219, 420; 60 bales of Second Hand Clothing with DPV of N11, 519,550; 14 sacks containing 28 bags of concealed rice with DPV of N1, 213,030.