TCIP Customs Grow Non-oil Export FOB By 65%

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The nation’s non-oil export performance has recorded a staggering sixty five percent rise with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N182,333,764,943 between January to June 2023; as against FOB value of N110,447,250,811 recorded within the same corresponding period of 2022.

Customs Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Command , Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede who made the disclosure Thursday, said in terms of volume (MT) and value (FOB), the export trade statistics is impressive.

A statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Okwara, quoting Oloyede said aport command exited a total of 291,436.43 Metric tonnes (MT) within the period under review, in addition to a total collection of Two Hundred and Sixty Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Naira, Sixty-Nine Kobo   (N260, 256,942,120.69) in customs revenue.

The statement reads, “ The Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Port Command has recorded an impressive revenue drive on non-oil export with an increasing 291,436.43 Metric tonnes (MT) through Free On Board (FOB) between January and June 2023.

Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede in a statement on Thursday, said in terms of volume (MT) and value (FOB), the export trade recorded an exponential growth within the period under review.

“Between January to June 2023, the tonnage of the goods exported through Tin Can Island Port Complex (TICPC) increased from 138,246.5 (MT) to 291,436.43 (MT); representing an increase of 110.8% over the previous year under review.

“The FOB increased from N110,447,250,811 in the first half of 2022 to N182,333,764,943 in the first half of 2023, representing an increase of 65%.”

He explained that within the period under review, the command participated in several symposiums to incentivize non-oil export, like the CBN RT200fx where a lot of benefits to export trade were highlighted. Export goods traded include agricultural  and other allied products namely; cocoa butter, cocoa beans, cashew nut, sesame seeds, rubber, empty bottles and copper ingots.

In revenue, the TCIP Customs boss said a total collection of Two Hundred and Sixty Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-Two  Thousand,  One Hundred and Twenty Naira, Sixty-Nine Kobo   (N260,256,942,120.69) was made in the first half of the year under review.

“The first half collection in 2023 runs at a variation with the first half of 2022 with a total collection of Two Hundred and Seventy-Four Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty Million, Seven Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy-Eight Naira, Seventy-Eight Kobo (N274,320,715,178.78) on a difference of Fourteen Billion, Sixty-Three Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Fifty-Eight Naira, Nine Kobo (N14,063,773,058.09).”

Giving a further breakdown of the revenue collection, Oloyede said:  “The sum of 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) was collected in the month of January 2023.

“January 2023 was Forty-One Billion, Five Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira, Nine Kobo (N41,518,738,649.09); March 2023, the Command recorded a total collection of Forty-Two Billion, Eight Hundred and Three Million, One Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Four Naira, Eleven Kobo (N42,803,114,544.11); while April, May and June, are Thirty-Six Billion, Five Hundred and Eleven Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Fifty-Seven Naira, Nine Kobo (N36,511,681,057.09), Forty-Six Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Six Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Eight Naira, Seventy-Nine Kobo (N46,485,639,728.79) and  Fifty Billion, Four Hundred and One Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, One Hundred and Three Naira Fifty Kobo (N50,401,432,103.50), respectively.”

On anti-smuggling, he explained that being the lead agency at the Port, the Enforcement Unit coordinated several anti-smuggling activities in synergy with other critical stakeholders in the trade value chain.

“The synergy led to the arrest of a total of 1442 Packets of Colorado Indica with a combined weight of 519.45kg extracted during 100% joint physical examination of eight (8) containers.  The total street value according to NDLEA sources is N721,000,000.00.  The means of conveyance in these cases, with the substance and two (2) suspects were handed over to NDLEA in strict compliance with the Service Headquarters’ directive”, adding:

“It is imperative and worthy of note to mention the critical roles played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation Unit, Customs Police Unit and Post Clearance Audit for their sustained interventions which translated to the blockage of revenue leakages by enhanced compliance towards the attainment of the revenue drive.”

Comptroller Oloyede stated that command has zero tolerance for the importation of unwholesome goods such as drugs, arms and ammunition adding that the mandate from the Service as well as the protection of the Nigeria Society is the driving force.

“We have continually put in proactive measures aimed at keeping our frontiers free from illicit and illegitimate trade.”

Meanwhile, the area customs boss with a knack for ICT assisted transaction has congratulated the Service for achieving a smooth power transition with Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR as the new comptroller general of customs.