Editor
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has allocated a revenue target of N1.13 trillion to the Tincan Island Port Command for 2024.
This follows as the agency remited N716.53 billion in 2023.
The Area Controller, Tincan Island Port Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
“The target allocated to Tincan Island Port command out of the national target is 27 per cent.
“Last year 2023, our revenue target was N801.5 billion out of which we were able to collect N716.5 billion which represents 89 per cent of our target.
“However, in 2024, due to our hard work, following our beautiful performance in 2023, the Controller General of Customs (CGC) and its management, allocated a revenue target of N1.13 trillion .
“This translates to a monthly target of N94.23 billion, which translates to N21.7 billion every week and that means on a daily basis officers and men of the command with the support of stakeholders are supposed to collect N4.23 billion every day,” he said.
Nnadi said the target was surmountable with the command’s committed officers and men.
He said the command’s weekly target in 2023 was N66 billion but from June to December, they averaged N76 billion, which meant that the 2024 target was doable.
Nnadi, however, encouraged and urged stakeholders not to be scared of the 2024 target.
On how to achieve this, the comptroller said the command had to strategize with senior officers who would cascade the decision taken to their officers and men.
“This year 2024 in the command has been declared as the year of stakeholders. We believe that they are going to reciprocate a kind gesture for us by declaring the appropriate duty, correct declaration and be compliant.
“Others say that the service had directed that every command must engage with what the CGC calls environmental scan by studying the environment and optimizing opportunities inherent .
“They are going to attach themselves to the policy landscape the ministry of finance will offer, engage stakeholders and to that effect, engage the national trade facilitation committee to conduct a time release study in Tincan in the month of February,” Nnadi said.
He said they were mandated to optimize their operational preparedness by embracing technological advancements in customs modernisation.
“Similarly, the CGC has directed that the technical capacity of every officer will be enhanced, and he will improve the welfare of customs officers.
“If that is the case, we have been given the motivation to ensure that the revenue target will be collected,” the comptroller said.
Nnadi who described Nigeria as an import generation economy noted that the service would match revenue and collection side by side with trade facilitation.
He added that they would map out strategies to ensure quick clearance of goods at the ports to avoid demurrage.
“In 2023, the command was able to handle 623694.7 metric tonnes of export.
“This is very significant in the sense that it is 85 per cent increase in tonnage of what we did in 2022,” he said.
