By Ruth Sunday.
Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made public N1, 032,601,044,744.00 with a total volume of 291,436.00 Metric Tons (MT) of exported commodities within the first six months of 2024.
This development was announced in a historic move by the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Dera Nnamdi while briefing the media at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) secretariat.
Comptroller Nnadi said “In the area of In the area of export, the total value of commercial goods exported through Tin Can Island Ports in the first half of 2024 is One Trillion, Thirty Two Billion, Six Hundred and One Million, Forty-Four-Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy –Four Naira Only ( =N=1, 032,601,044,744.00) and a total volume of 489,594.50 Metric Tons (MT) as against export value of 1ST half 2023 of One Hundred and Eighty-Two Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty Three Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand Naira Only (=N=182,333,764,943.00) with a total volume of 291,436.00 Metric Tons (MT).
“In terms of value, soya beans was the highest export commodity worth =N= 92,059,078,980.00 while self-adhesive was the lowest export commodity with a value of =N=17,560,865.00.
According to him, the command collected a whooping 575,505,612,804.59 in the first half of 2024, ,adding that this aligned with the statutory functions of the service in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement/anti-smuggling activities.
“TCIP achieved a revenue collection of Five Hundred and Seventy-Five Billion, Five Hundred and Five Million, Six Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Eight Hundred and Four Naira and Fifty-Nine Kobo only (=N= 575,505,612,804.59). This is an improvement by =N=315, 248,670,683.90 billion and a 221.13% increase from the FY 2023 First Half revenue collection of =N=260,256,942,120.69 billion” he disclosed.
“In the area of seizure and anti-smuggling, Nnadi disclosed that the command’s enforcement and anti-smuggling unit has not been relenting in its efforts to combat smuggling and all forms of criminality.
“Customs, being the lead agency at the Ports through its enforcement unit has coordinated several 100% physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure that the command is freed of any form of non-compliance to the international trade cycle”
“Some of the items seized include three plastic drums concealing several packets of Cannabis Indica, forty-six bags containing two thousand one hundred and forty-four packets of Cannabis Indica all weighing one thousand and seventy-two kilogrammes (1,072kg) imported from Canada. The approximate street value of the illicit substances is N3, 216,000,000.00 valued at N3.216bn (Three Billion Two Hundred Sixteen Million Naira Only).
The CAC disclosed that the total Duty Paid Value of all the seizures made amounted to N8.9bn adding that the significance of the seizures does not lie on the amount but the ability to stop the injection of those illicit drugs, arms and ammunition into the country that are capable of wreaking havocs in the country.
Nnadi disclosed that the feat would not have been achieved without the support of the critical stakeholders in the industry like the shipping companies, terminal operators, and others.
“We continue to express our appreciation for the support and clear sense of direction from the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi, MFR, and the Management of the Nigeria Customs Service for their relentless and continuous efforts towards strengthening the capacity of the Service and introducing innovative methods to perform its statutory responsibilities in line with international best practices.
“I also appreciate the contributions of my management team as well as officers and men of the Command and hereby urge them to continue to support this administration as we strive to achieve greater heights” he said.
