In-Spite the downturn in volume of importation into Nigeria, in the first quarter of 2023, the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), generated a revenue of N10,572,518,271 within the first quarter of year 2023.
This, is as the Command also recovered underpayment of N68.5 million through the issuance of Demand Notices (DN) during the period under review as part of efforts to safeguard and protect all revenue accruable from import and export trade.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi who confirmed the figures said the Command has taken steps to invigorate its revenue drive by encouraging shipping companies and other critical stakeholders who had up to this period, overlooked the Command, as a strategic destination of choice, for incoming and outgoing cargoes.
He explained that the Command recently overcame its major impediment which is the draft, which restricts the direct berth of sea-going vessels, through the introduction of ocean-going lighter barges with the capacity of moving over 200 TEU’s.
The Controller disclosed that KLT has an installed capacity of handling about 6,000 TEUs, pointing out that the Terminal is functioning at less than 10% of its installed capacity, but that it has a lot of room for growth.
According to him , with the commissioning of a few new terminals and the promise of increased cargo allocation, the Command is hopeful of a positive turnaround in its activities, both for imports and exports, as it believes that as trade volume increases, so will the revenue profile also improve.
Bomodi stated that Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command has a strategic advantage over other ports in Lagos, for the fact that its unique location allows for immediate entry and exit, unlike other ports where there is an average waiting time of seven days.
He said , given its location, the Command allows for the easy evacuation of exports and empty containers, a challenge, according to him, most shipping companies and terminals have difficulties overcoming.
According to him ,prior to this period, the command was used as a transit hub for exports. However, since the establishment of an export processing terminal, all export procedures have since commenced in the Command with an anticipated uptick in export volume.
The CAC also stated that the first quarter of 2023, also saw the establishment of a clinic for the Command which was commissioned by the ACG Zone ‘A’ on behalf of the CGC, adding that this has significantly contributed to the well-being of officers as all health-related challenges are given prompt attention before they are referred to other facilities.
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