- Compt. Dera Nnadi of the Customs Tin Can Island Command (left) and the President, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, adorning the Time Release Study vests to mark customs’ partnership with maritime journalists in the research project, after the former presented the command’s half-year performance report at MARAN Secretariat in Lagos…Friday
By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Tincan Island Port Command (TCIP) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a total revenue from import worth N575,505,612,804.59 for the half-year from January 1 to June 30, 2024.
Unveiling the command’s half-year revenue and performance for the period to newsmen at Apapa Friday, Compt. Dera Nnadi disclosed that the figure was N315, 248,670,683.90 billion (221.13 per cent) higher than the N260,256,942,120.69 billion posted in the same period of 2023.
In export facilitation segment, he stated that the command processed a total volume of 489,594.50mt, with FOB value of NXP for commercial goods N1,032,601,044,744.00, far higher than the N182,333,764,943.00 with a total volume of 291,436.00mt for the same period of 2023.
Nnadi, who spoke at the secretariat of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), disclosed that soya bean was the highest export commodity for the period at N92,059,078,980.00, while self-adhesive was lowest at a total of N17,560,865.00.
According to him, the TCIP operations for the period “significantly aligned with the statutory functions of the service in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement/anti-smuggling activities.”
According to him, the command, mindful of the theme of the 2024 International Customs Day, “Customs: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose,” focused on providing enabling environment to help “businesses and people recover from the negative effects of the floating exchange rate through collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the supply chain and the use of technology.”
These included the deployment of the ‘846’ Non-Standard VIN valuation application, Pre-Arrival Assessment Report and Advance Manifest and Selectivity engine to enable a more efficient risk management process and mitigate delays in cargo clearance, facilitate legitimate trade and ensure the collection of appropriate duties and taxes, he added.
Under enforcement and anti-smuggling, Compt. Nnadi stated that customs “coordinated several 100 per cent physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders” to ensure that the command is freed from any form of non-compliance with international trade cycle.
Through this, so much arms and ammunitions as well as banned and regulated drugs concealed in containers, among others, were seized.
Meanwhile, he listed the command’s engagements with stakeholders towards enhanced trade facilitation to include virtual and physical meetings with shipping companies/lines on modalities to automate communication channels to reduce fraudulent manifest transmission, recycled bills of lading and other channels that could lead to revenue loss.
It also engaged terminal and barge operators on reforms and standardisations for transire management and seamless movement of cargo; as well as dispute resolution committee and helpdesk for resolving disputes and addressing stakeholders’ legitimate complaints on customs’ clearance process.
“These facilities have been strategic and significant in assisting the command to maintain a balance between facilitating legitimate trade and collecting appropriate taxes on behalf of government,” he stated.
He added that the port access and terminal access roads were undergoing construction and further decongestion, while the command has continued to facilitate the use of barges as alternative means of transport for the movement of customs cargo, thereby helping to maintain business and flow in the customs clearance process.
Ahead of the release of report on the ongoing Time Release Study, which pilot study is ongoing at the command, Nnadi said the research was yielding useful information, contrary to figures and claims being paraded by neighbouring countries’ ports on cargo dwell time and release.
He explained that though the customs is the major agency concerned with cargo clearance and release, it is only a unit among the many relevant stakeholders, including importers and clearing agents, involved in the clearance process, all of which differently account for the time it takes any cargo to exit the port.
Optimistic of better performance ratings, he said the implementation of the e-Customs project and installation of smart technology at the ports would be a turning point in the digitalisation of customs processes and procedures, and significantly boost the command’s capacity to enforce compliance and generate revenue.
