Customs Service Rake-in About N13b Cash in Lagos

• Customs Service Rake-in About N13b Cash in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has raked-in about N13billion at one of its commands in Lagos, it was learnt.

The cash was generated within the first six months of the year by the Lillypond Customs Command.

Its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Faruq Abubakar said N12.61 billion was generated in the first half of the year in contrast to N4.31 billion generated in the corresponding period last year.

He attributed the increase in revenue generation to the excellent performance of the Area Controller, Mahmud Dalhat.

For instance, he said the command generated N2.40 billion last month, which translated to an increase of 68 per cent above the monthly target.

Abubakar said the annual target of the command for last year was N10.6 billion.

The command, findings revealed, was able to generate the cash based on the consistent efforts of the controller in monitoring the operations at the Customs Processing Centre in Lekki, Lagos Free Trade Zones in Lagos and Lillypond Terminal at Ijora.

He said the command’s target for this year is N17.1 billion.

He said the controller has blocked all the leakages as part of his efforts to surpass the target set for the command.

The command generated revenue from the general cargo and containerised cargo.

“We have no record of seizures due to the commitment of the officers and men of the command and the controller has always sensitised clearing agents on the importance of honest declaration.

“The introduction and adoption of Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) also have positive effects on the revenue collection drive of our command,” he said.

Abubakar said the controller has put in place good policies to ensure free flow of business in line with the Federal Government directives on Ease of Doing Business.

He commended the policies and business initiatives of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd,) and lauded his efforts in motivating officers, saying that it has led to the credible performance of the Service and revenue generation.