27 January 2014, Lagos – The Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has said it generated N284.2 billion in 2014 up from N240.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr Chris Osunkwo, who disclosed this, said that in 2013, the command had a total of N240.1 billion, whereas in 2014, it made N284.2 billion, which showed that the amount collected by the command in 2014 was N44.1 billon more than what was collected 2013.
“That’s a remarkable increase and improvement from the previous year. Like I have always put it, quality leadership is number one, provided by the incumbent Area Controller, Alhaji Zakari Jibrin. Kudos too, must go to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, who deemed it fit to provide the enabling environment for us to operate.
“So, we have been working assiduously to return his goodwill for all of us in the service, because of a popular saying that to whom much is given, much is expected and that’s exactly what you are seeing in our performance.
“We are grateful to the Controller-General of Customs, who is a key member in the transformation agenda for transforming the service and taking it to greater level. We urged all to work with total commitment. From the records, you can see that for yourself,” Osunkwo said.
He said that the command generated N26.8 billion by December 2014, adding that the command also has some challenges which include unauthorised influx of persons into the port.
“In every human endeavour, naturally where you make progress, there are bound to be inherent challenges. The level of unauthorised influx of persons into the ports, constitutes a whole lot of hurdles, distractions and name it.
“So, we have been managing this and sooner or later, we will arrive at the Eldorado in management of this unwanted crowd. Another is trying to make customs licensed agents inculcate attitude of integrity because like we have this our PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report), which I have always said is a measure designed for integrity-driven business clients,” he added.
– Vanguard