Despite the controversial Vehicles Inspection Number (VIN) valuation crisis , coupled with the closure of Five Star Logistics Terminal and the war in Ukraine, the Nigeria Customs Service,Tin Can Island Command has attributed the monthly surpassed revenue target to divine intervention from God.
Tin Can Island port command said it collected over N274.3 billion between January and June this year, representing a 27.50 percent increase from N229.3 billion collected in the corresponding period of 2021.
Public Relations Officer, Tin Can Island Command of the service, Mr. Uche Ejesieme who spoke with our correspondent over the weekend, disclosed that the Area Controller, Adekunle Oloyode while assuming duty , renovated the dilapidated church and mosque respectively , which in turn resulted to the possibility of the revenue drive hike.
Apparently, convinced with the spiritual impart on the successes recorded under the new sheriff, Mr. Ejesieme who expressed shock on how the revenue had continued to soar since Comptroller Oloyede deployment to the command, despite the controversies surrounding customs processes and procedures at the port terminals , maintained that the gesture of rehabilitating the facilities might be part of the success story recorded under the controller’s watch.
According to him, the Area Controller was newly deployed to Tin Can Island Command when the protest by freight agents began on the VIN valuation adding that expectations were low to surpass revenue collection during the period of the crisis.
The image maker reiterated that “The controller actually assumed duty when the agents commence the strike . So it is surprising to say that despite the challenges we have at hand when the controller newly assume duty here, we were able to surpassed the revenue target.
“It has been very very interesting if you look at the records you will find out the marginal difference between this period and last year on revenue collection.
“We have been exceeding our revenue on a monthly basis. If quay apron is bad and of course the terminal was also shutdown for day then you know the consequence to revenue collection of customs and its no rocket science but we have been very luck I must say because it has gone beyond spiritual warfare , it has even gone beyond the physical because God has come in to assist the command.
” Because when Five Star Logistics was shutdown, we are still doing well and its just the grace of God , maybe because the controller came, refurbished the mosque and church as well which may have played a prominent role spiritually because the first thing he did when he assumed office is this church – mosque issues.
“He (controller)asked officers their needs and they requested for the renovation of the church and mosque which was the first thing he did. So you will be surprised that even with all these challenges we are still surpassing revenue target.
“Recall that the crisis on VIN valuation started when he newly came as Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command and for the one or two months strike we are lucky to surpass the revenue. Once in a while we also handle bulk cargoes to complement the convention cargoes peculiar to Tin Can Port.
By Roland Ekama
