PTML Customs Generates N66.9b, Targets 2Hrs Vehicles Clearance Time

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Port Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service collected a total of N66,920,181,586.30 in revenue receipts in the first quarter of 2024.
It is N22,198,965,809.55 higher than N44,721,215,776.75 collected between January and March 2023, representing 49.6 percent increase.
Comptroller Saidu Abba Yusuf, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command who described the increase in revenue collection as a laudable feat , said the command is more committed towards trade facilitation and ease of doing business policy of the federal government.
The Command Public Relations Officer, CSC Muhammed Yakubu in a statement quoted Comptroller Yusuf as thanking the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR for initiating strategies to achieve faster cargo clearance , and reiterared that PTML Command under his watch aims to surpass its record of three hour cargo clearance for compliant traders.
Yusuf note that the launching of time release study (TRS) which is ongoing and other deliberate efforts by the Comptroller General have contributed in the expansion of terminal space and promoting ease of doing business in PTML.
The CAC also disclosed that the PTML command has potentials to achieve two hour cargo clearance and surpass it’s existing three hours record if port users compliance level is improved upon
Describing PTML as one of the safest and most secure environment for RoRo(Roll On Roll Off) and general cargoes, advised importets and their agents to take advantage of the incentives available for compliant traders such as fast track, advance ruling and possible migration to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status.
The outgoing CAC reminded port users in PTML of the robust and time conscious dispute resolution mechanism, which has contributed immensely to the revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti smuggling functions of the command.
While commending the various government and private sector stakeholders for their cooperation and support towards realisation of government goal of revenue collection and prevention of unlawful activities, Comptroller
Yusuf expressed optimism that the command will surpass it’s annual target for the year.
Speaking further on the activities of the command, Yusuf described the importation of vehicles meant for Nigerian roads into neighboring countries with intent to smuggle them through unapproved roads into Nigeria as unpatriotic and act of economic sabotage as the command has the capacity for seamless and efficient processing of such automobile cargoes.
For the second quarter and first half of the year, the CAC enjoined officers to maximally deploy available technology and rededicate themselves to the job to achieve more.
He reminded the port users that there is increased anti smuggling vigilance to uncover concealment such as under declaration and smuggling of prohibited items. The CAC added that any discovered infraction will lead to full evoking of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA), where there are spelt-out penalties.