Customs generates N2.2tr revenue in 2021

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said it generated N2.23 trillion revenue in 2021. The amount which exceeded the year’s target of N1.67 trillion.

Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Joseph Attah, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

The generated figure represents a 43.45 per cent rise over the N1.5 trillion collected in 2020.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Col, Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) described the performance as a result of the resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to change.

Attah said the service revenue generation profile has continued to be on the rise annually with the ongoing reforms in the Service.

He added that strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and trade department was instrumental to the feat.

The NCS further noted that automation of the Customs process, thereby eliminating vices associated with the manual process, was accountable for it.

The NCS noted that robust stakeholder sensitisation resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance contributed to the huge collection.

He also attributed it to the increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above self.

Attah said the Service efforts to prevent the entry of items that could compromise the security of citizens and resulted in the seizures of 5,096 assorted items with a duty paid value of N13,796,646,685.60.

He said 160 suspects were at different levels of investigation or prosecution.

The NCS said other landmark achievements in 2021 that are capable of boosting national security and economy are: “The installation of three brand new scanners in Apapa, Tin-Can Island and Onne Ports;

“Introduction of mobile tracker: a mobile application that enables individuals to remotely validate any declaration/payment and most importantly the status of any vehicle/cargo at any point. It can be installed on mobile devices;

“Introduction of Standard Operating Procedure for the use of Scanners;

“Acquisition of rugged, gun trucks to secure anti-smuggling operatives in an increasingly hostile environment;

“E-customs take-off process now at the stage of the final signing of the agreement.”