.Tin Can Command nets N130.1b
Comptroller of the Apapa Area 1 Command, Musa Jibrin of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has said that the command made good of its optimism as his unit hauled in a total sum of N165,743,266,107.71 (One hundred and sixty five billion, seven hundred and forty three million, two hundred and sixty six thousand, one hundred and seven naira, seventy one kobo) in the first half of the year.
Comparatively, the total amount made within the corresponding period under review between January and June 2016, shows that, N120,967,152,918.00 (One hundred and twenty billion, nine hundred and sixty seven million, one hundred and fifty two thousand, nine hundred and eighteen naira no kobo) which is 31.48 percent this however, reflects a revenue difference of N44,774,113,192.71, with a 27.01 percent increase over the money collected in 2016, despite the deficiency in business transactions and the bad government policies that has almost grounded businessmen relationship with the ports, frustrating every efforts to save the economy from collapsing.
This challenges if allowed to linger on, the chances of surpassing revenue target would be minimal due to the impassable port access roads gridlock which has brought disgrace to Nigeria, even government palliatives seem not to address the problems faced by motorists applying this routes to the Lagos ports.
A statement from the office of the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Nkiru Nwala, shows the breakdown of the monthly revenue chart between January and June this year.
Therefore, in January the revenue that came in was N25,958,919,21;8.73 while in February the money dropped to N24,767,582,067.43, in March it got a slight increase to N26,713,144,429.13, however, there was a revenue drop in the month of April which recorded N25,186,752,882.45, based on the outcome of other revenue already collected so far, the Controller introduced new measures and more advanced technological strategies in connection to the 24hours port operations Executive Directive compliance of the Federal Government, to improve on subsequent revenue earnings.
In May the Command created an impressive record by raking in a whopping sum of N33,618,220,540.24 due to some unforseen circumstances the revenue for June slightly dropped to N29,498,646,970.7.
To ensure that the Command keep up good speed by maintaining a high revenue profile, Comptroller Jibrin promise to sustain the tempo, thereby commends his officers and men for their resilience and commitment for efficiency and prudence displayed while discharging their duties, he said.
While appreciating the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), for his immense support to ensure that his policies of zero tolerance is not wasted, said that the Command would continue to encourage legitimate trade facilitation which is key to growth by enhancing productivity in all spheres.
Jibrin tasked importers and their agents to be transparent in doing business at the ports, advising that they should not be involved in the act of under declaration of goods because anyone caught would be prosecuted and handed over to face the law courts, he declared.
The Command in the month of May this year handed over to NAFDAC 7 impounded containers concealed with prohibited drugs over false declaration and under declaration.
The Chief helmsman of Apapa Area 1 Command the flagship of the ports, Comptroller Jibrin charged stakeholders to increase their level of compliance in other to enjoy the dividends of democracy.may
Also, as the country grapples with economic slides which has eaten deep into its revenue, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command, has said it generated a total sum of N130,006,136,996.36 (One hundred and thirty billion,and six million, one thirty six thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine naira, thirty six kobo) as revenue between January and June this year 2017.
According to the Image maker of the Command, DSC, Uche Ejesieme, highlights the total statistical breakdown of the money recorded so far. In January a total sum of N19,834,314,976.00 was realized, and in February it rises to N21,048,128,157.91 while in March there was a slight drop as it collects N20,957,382,354.00 therefore in April it witnessed another slight drop as the Command raked in N20,314,845,027.39, and in the month of May the revenue saw the light of the day with N23,879,670,813.35, in June there was an impressive performance with N23,971,795,667.71, even though the circumstances surrounding business transaction were not too friendly.
Speaking to newsmen recently in Lagos, the Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Yusuf Bashir expressed delight over the rate of compliance in legitimate trade facilitation which he said is his key point, though challenges were experienced which can not be ruled out in the first half of the year 2017, but due to modalities explored by keying into the 24hours ports operation executive order they were surmounted.
He added that for the Command to be able to actualize some of the major agendas of the Comptroller General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), they have to ensure the policy is adhered to, saying that “we have to make every frantic efforts to generate maximum revenue, this he said is the proof of the revenue profile of January to June, 2017.
The statement disclosed that due to Bashir’s exemplary leadership quality so far demonstrated, his name has been registered in “Gold” as the first Controller to win the heart of the CGC, as the Command under his leadership in 2016 received a “Commendation from Col. Ali and his Management four times in four consecutive weeks”, the first of its kind in the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Command in 2016 ending generated over N256 billion as against the year target of over N266 billion with the difference of less than N10 billion despite business lull in all facets of the Nigerian trade hub.
He tasked stakeholders operating within his purview to ensure that they are not involved in under declaration and false declaration of their goods to avoid been seizer and charged to court. He warned that anyone found culpable would not escape prosecution and his invested money lost in the desert, he assured.
