- Extends private jet owner verification y 14 days
By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it generated the sum of N1.004 trillion for the 2021 half-year (January to June), beating its N713.55 billion for the corresponding period of 2020 by N290.2 billion.
Also reaping from its Joint Border Patrol and intelligence sharing with the customs administrations of Benin and Niger on cross-border crimes and criminalities, the NCS made a total of 2,333 assorted seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N4.42 billion within the period.
Some of these seizures included arms and ammunition, illicit drugs and food items like rice, vegetable oil, among others that could have had grave consequences on national security and economy, the NCS Public Relations Officer, DC Joseph Attah, disclosed.
In a statement Thursday on the agency’s performance half-year, he attributed the trillion-naira mark in six months to the “resolute pursuit of what is right and willingness to adapt to changes brought about by global health challenges occasioned by Covid-19.
Attah described the achievement as “unprecedented” in the agency, adding that the “revenue profile continues to increase due to ongoing reforms that exploits the potentials of technology through robust automation of the processes and procedures.”
Others, according to him, included deployment of officers “strictly based on the standard operating procedure; robust stakeholder-sensitisation resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance; and improved working relationship with the National Assembly.”
The agency restated its firm desire “to generate more revenue than what is set for it, given favourable environment. NCS will always be willing and happy to break its records as it is in this case of over N1 trillion in six months.”
Meanwhile, with a total of 58 private aircraft owners having complied and more indicating interest to do so, the NCS said it has extended by 14 days (July 7 to 20, 2021) the deadline for verification of private aircraft owners.
The exercise was previously announced for June 7 to July 6, 2021. According to Attah, infractions discovered during the exercise included “breach of Temporary Importation agreement and non-appropriate payment of duty and taxes.”
However, defaulters “have indicated interest to pay, with some already commencing the process by making appropriate declarations.
“Considering the level of response and indications for more, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), has extended the verification period by 14 days – July 7 to 20, 2021.”
Afterwards, appropriate sanctions as contained in the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap C45 LFN 2004, as amended, will be applied.
