Nnadi Commends Officers for Teamwork, Announce 139% Revenue Target Surplus

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni has commended his officers and men for identifying with the command’s uncommon teamwork spirit, a strategy he attributed to the command’s first quarter 2024 impressive scorecard which ended with 139% surplus in its revenue collection target.

According to the TCIP Customs boss, the area command surpass it’s first Quarter Revenue Target for 2024 by one hundred and thirty nine percent (139%) with the sum of One Hundred and Seventy Seven Billion, Seventy-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Thirty five Naira, Thirty-Six Kobo (₦177,079,358,035.36), compared to the corresponding period of 2023.

Disclosing above in a statement, the Command Public Relations Officer, SC Ngozi Okwara explained that Nnadi at a meeting with his principal officers and men discussed operational challenges and modalities, including looking at new strategies on how to continue to respond to the command’s revenue duty for the current quarter and beyond.

Comptroller Nnadi according to the statement urged his officers and men to buckle up in the area of its core responsibilities including trade facilitation, revenue generation and national security and to make up for the prolong holidays by re-dedicating themselves to the task ahead through increased diligence, professionalism and commitment.

The statement reads: “I wish to welcome everyone back from the Easter and Sallah holidays, May our prayers offered in good faith for our Service and Nation during and after the Holy season be accepted.

“I sincerely wish to congratulate Officers and Men of the command for embracing service delivery for our stakeholders and for teamwork which resulted to the Area Command surpass its first Quarter Revenue Target for 2024 by one hundred and thirty nine percent (139%) with a difference of One Hundred and Seventy Seven Billion, Seventy-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Thirty five Naira, Thirty-Six Kobo (₦177,079,358,035.36), when compared to the same period of the year 2023. All effort out into place by all Units in the Area Command for this success recorded is highly appreciated.”

In line with his avowed  recognition that 2024 is stakeholders’ year, the customs area controller reminded officers of the need to relate professionally and respectfully with stakeholders in the cause of treating complaints and handling of non-compliant traders.

Giving the breakdown of the revenuecollection on a month-to-month basis, Nnadi said:

“The command collected a total of Eighty Eight Billion, Four Hundred and Thirty Million, One Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty two Naira, Seventy-Two Kobo only (₦88,430,126,122.72) in the month of January 2024.

“This indicates a 107.9% upscale from the revenue collected for same period of January 2023 ; Forty-two Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Three Hundred And  Thirty-Six Thousand, Thirty-Eight Naira, Eleven Kobo (₦42,536,336,038.11)

“In the month of February 2024, the command generated One Hundred Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira, Seventy-One Kobo only (₦100,399,354,887.71), this is 141.8% higher than the value collected in the same period in 2023 which is Forty-One Billion, Five Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira and Nine Kobo (₦41,518,738,649.09)” and:

“In the month of March 2024, the Command recorded the sun of One Hundred and Fifteen Billion, One Hundred and Eight Million, Sixty Six thousand, Two hundred and Fifty Six Naira, Twenty Kobo only (₦115,108,066,256.20) as against the Forty two Billion, Eight Hundred and Three Million, One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Four Naira and Eleven Kobo (₦42,803,114,544.11) collected for March 30 2023; this is 163.9% increase.”

In enforcement, he said officers are not relenting in their effort to combat snuggling and all forms of criminality.

“Customs being the lead Agency at the Ports through it’s Enforcement Unit has coordinated several 100% physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with Critical Stakeholders to ensure that the command is freed of any form of non-compliance in line with the International trade cycle.

“A total of 57 packets of Heroine weighing 56.390kg with a street value of (₦902, 240,000.00); 3612 packets of Colorado Indica weighing 956.772kg with a street value of (₦4,055,400,000.00). All the seized illicit drugs have been handed over to the relevant sister agencies as directed by the service”. He said.

He disclosed that the command has in the past few months hosted various stakeholders’ forum (Shipping Companies; Terminal Operators; Freight Forwarders and Security Agencies etc) either physically and virtually on modalities to automate communication channel to minimize revenue loss and boost rules of engagement.

Speaking on the Time Release Study (TRS) the command was chosen to do the pilot programme test run, Nnadi explained it is on course, with a focus targeted at achieving its aim.

“I have the honour to inform you that irrespective of the challenges observed, the Area Command has not relented on its efforts to ensure that the aim is achieved. The TRS as a Customs Process aims to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within Customs Operations by assessing the time it takes for goods to be released from terminals within the port premises.

“This will be unveiled with time, yet be assured that there is progress.”

Unveiling new developments at the command, he disclosed a number of new terminals were established within the period under review.

He said, “In her effort to create a level playing field for importers and stakeholders by decongests the Ports, the Command encouraged stakeholders’ approach for the establishment of new terminals. Activities have long commenced at the terminals, respectively.”

On export, he said: “In terms of Volume (MT) and value (FOB), export trade recorded exponential growth within the same period under review. Comparatively, tonnage of goods exported via TCIP increased from 145,906.33 mT in 2023 to 251,679.89 mT in 2024 and represents an increase of 95.3%.

“Also, there is an over 300% increase in the FOB value of the exports from Eighty Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninty-Three Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Thousand,  Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N80,993,580,710) to Two Hundred and Eighty -Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninty-Two Million,Seven Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifteen Naira (N287,792,767,415.00) of Q1 2023 and 2024 respectively.

“ Exports from the Command includes essentially Agricultural and other allied products, namely; Coca-Butter, Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nuts etc.”

The NCS centre striker speaking on strategies to sustain the tempo, “The Area Command will continue to put in more efforts towards better performance. We are optimistic that with the content of digitalization of all Customs processes and procedures based on the modernisation agenda of the Service we will achieve more in our responsibilities.”

Thanking the leadership and management of the NCS, he said, “We will continue  to express our profound appreciation for the support and clear sense of direction from the Comptroller General of Customs,  BA Adeniyi MFR and his management team for their relentless and continuous efforts towards strengthening the capacity of the Service and introducing innovative methods to perform its statutory responsibilities in line with international best practices.”