Tin-Can Island Port Command has released its exemplary report which according to Customs area Controller, Tin-Can Island Port Command Apapa-Lagos,

Comptroller Olakunle Oloyede, was borne out of a renewed enthusiasm in areas of discipline, trade facilitation and revenue drive devoid of extortionist tendencies.

According to the report, the command has achieved a 21.8% increase in its first quarter revenue with about N135 billion.

Comptroller Olakunle Oloyede, in his speech while reading out the report that it will be recalled that his resumption coincided with the mass protest by the freight forwarders following the deployment of the VIN Valuation platform aimed at harmonization of value across board and also for security reasons. 

He, however said the command was able to manage the situation as he had a comparative advantage of having participated actively in the formulation and eventual deployment of the module and activities were normalized.

“My arrival signaled a new dawn in the overall performance of the Command. 

“This is simply in view of the fact that I was emphatic and categorical on my vision for a renewed enthusiasm in areas of discipline, trade facilitation and revenue drive devoid of extortionist tendencies.

“Tincan Island Port Command’s Operations for the first quarter, that is, January-March 2022 significantly aligned with the statutory responsibilities of the Service in the areas of Revenue Generation, Trade Facilitation and Enforcement/Anti-Smuggling activities. 

“In addition to the above, my mandate also included putting modalities in place to boost export and increase revenue through the use of risk management mechanisms in identifying areas of leakages with a view to blocking them. 

“It is also instructive to note that the Command’s Operations drew inspiration from the theme of the International Customs Day, “Scaling up Customs digital transformation by embracing a data culture and building a data Ecosystem”.

“The Command continues to leverage on this theme to harness such facilities that have been made available on the NICIS II platform such as the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), Advance Manifest, Selectivity Engine and data analysis which to a large extent enhanced our Risk Management Processes culminating into Trade Facilitation, expedited customs processes and ensuring the collection of appropriate duties and taxes. 

“Accordingly, in the area of revenue generation for the first quarter January- march 2022, Tincan Island Port achieved a revenue collection of One Hundred and thirty five billion, four hundred and forty three million, two hundred and twenty three thousand, two hundred and eighty three Naira and thirty one (#135,443,223,283.31). 

“This is an improvement of twenty two billion, seven hundred and forty seven million, five hundred and thirty thousand, one hundred and twenty four Naira and sixty five Kobo (#22,747,530,124.65) Only, translating to 20.18% increase from the first quarter 2021 collection of one hundred and twelve billion, six hundred and ninety five million, six hundred and ninety three thousand, one hundred and fifty eight Naira, sixty six Kobo (#112,695,693,158.66).

“In terms of Export, the total tonnage of goods exported through Tincan Island Port for the period under review January – March 2022 is Seventy-One Thousand and Fourteen Metric Tonnes (71,014.4MT) with a total FOB Value of Fifty Six Billion, Two Hundred and Five Million, Nine Hundred and One Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five Naira (N56,205,901,295.00) while in the preceding year January-March 2021, the total tonnage of goods exported through the Command was Forty-Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Two Metric Tonnes (44,502.9MT) with a total FOB value of Thirty-One Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-One Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira (#31,371,825,954.00).

“Comparatively, between January to March 2021 and 2022, the tonnage of goods exported through the Command increased from 44,502.9 Metric Tons to 71,014 representing an increase of 62 7%. The FOB Value in Naira of the above mentioned tonnage also increased from N31,371,825,954.00 to N56,205,901,295.00 representing an increase of 55.82% within the period under review.

“Commodities exported through the Command includes the following, Copper Ingots, Stainless Steel Ingots, Sesame Seeds, Cashew Nuts, Cocoa Beans, Rubber,
Cocoa Butter, Leather, Ginger, Frozen Shrimps etc.

“In the area of Enforcement/Anti-smuggling activities, seizures made include 145kg of Colorado (Indian hemp) concealed in 2 units of Ridgeline trucks and 2 units of Toyota corolla vehicles, 206,000 pieces of machetes, 640 bales of used clothes, 236,500 pieces of used shoes, 62,500 pieces of new lady’s shoes, 1,670,400 pieces of Chloroquine injections (5mg/5ml), 1,814,400 pieces Novalgen injection (500mg/5ml), 48,850 rolls of cigarettes and 23,800 tins of sodium bromate & baking powder. 

“The import of these products contravenes Sections 46, 47, & 161 of the Customs & Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45 LFN 2004. The Duty Paid Value of these seizures amounted to 1,048,810,569.00.

“Despite our successes, the Command is still facing challenges in the area of treatment of overtime cargo because of the non-implementation of the extant laws guiding uncleared cargo.

Additionally, the lack of Government Warehouses at close proximity to the port has led to difficulties in logistics and handling cost.

“The Federal Ministry of Finance has recently published the 2022 Fiscal Policy with an effective date of 1″ April 2022. However, a grace period of 90 days has been given for the implementation of the new duty and excise rates which is to take effect from 1” June 2022. As much as the Service is putting in effort to make the necessary adjustments, we are experiencing minor delays in its full implementation because the system is not designed to be retroactive.

“At this juncture, we would like to specially appreciate the support and clear sense of direction from the Comptroller General and the Management of the Nigeria Customs Service for their relentless effort towards strengthening the capacity of the Service to perform its statutory responsibilities in line with international best practices.

“However, my speech will be incomplete without special recognition of members of the press for their invaluable support through thick and thin and your objectivity in reporting our activities. May I urge you not to rest on your oars as the task of nation building is a shared responsibility. I assure you that I will not take this partnership for granted.

“Finally, the command will continue to put in more effort towards better performance and is optimistic that with the e-Customs agenda of the Service and the recent deployment of non-intrusive technology such as scanners, we would be able to achieve more in our core responsibilities of revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement of Government’s fiscal policies.” he said.