The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in a press release said it made a remarkable performance within the first half of year (January 1st -June 30th) 2024 by generating over N2.74 trillion into the government coffers.
The figure, which represents a 127% increase over the Service’s revenue collection for half-year 2023 which stood at N1.39 trillion. With a half-year revenue target of N2.54 trillion for 2024, Customs has surpassed the target by 8%.
The press release which was signed by Customs National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, said key initiatives contributing to this success included the e-auction platform, which generated over N1.34 billion, and the 90-day duty payment window for uncustomed vehicles, adding N4.37 billion to the revenue.
“These measures have significantly enhanced transparency, compliance, and efficiency in customs processes, underscoring the NCS’s commitment to excellence.
The statement also stated that the Service intensified its anti-smuggling operations within the period under review which resulted in notable achievements. The service made a total seizure s of 2,442 with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of NGN 25,520,652,942.87, which is 203% higher than the DPV of seizures in the first half of 2023. In the second quarter of 2024, the NCS said it made 1,334 seizures with a DPV of NGN 17,564,384,378, representing a 121% increase over the first quarter of 2024. The top items seized include wildlife items, vehicles, arms and ammunition, foreign rice, pharmaceuticals, and narcotics, with 32 suspects in custody.
In the area of trade facilitation, which remains a core priority for the NCS, the Service processed 620,467 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs), reflecting a reduction of approximately 39% compared to the same period in 2023. Despite this decline, the NCS has implemented several key initiatives to simplify and expedite customs processes. These include reinforcement of NCS automation procedures, capacity-building programs for officers, and public-private partnerships to enhance customs clearance efficiency. These efforts are crucial for enhancing Nigeria's trade competitiveness and supporting economic growth.
Despite the achievements, the NCS said it faced several challenges within the same period, which includes significant fluctuations in the exchange rate, a lower volume of transactions, low compliance levels among importers and exporters, and periodic downtime. These challenges which it said impacted the consistency of revenue collection and overall operational efficiency.
To address these challenges and enhance revenue collection, the NCS implemented several strategies, including real-time system auditing, post-clearance audits, verification of documents for the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), ensuring compliance with import guidelines, and the implementation of a pilot test for the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) scheme.
Additionally, the NCS has recently introduced the Advance Ruling System (ARS), a legally binding decision on classification, valuation, and rules of origin before the importation or exportation of goods. Other pragmatic measures implemented to increase revenue, despite a drop in cargo throughput, included establishing a robust framework for dispute resolution, launching Operation Whirlwind, reshuffling strategic-level officers and robust stakeholders’ engagement.
The CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR commends all officers and men of the NCS for their diligence and commitment. He also acknowledges the stakeholders who have played significant roles in achieving this performance. He further reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s dedication to supporting the realisation of government policies for a better Nigeria.
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