• Sun. Feb 9th, 2025

House Committee on Customs Commends Nigeria Customs Service For Increased Revenue, Seizures of Arms, Ammunition


Abuja, Nigeria – The House Committee on Customs and Excise has praised the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its remarkable increase in revenue generation and recent successful seizures of arms and ammunition, which enhance national security. This commendation was made during an oversight visit to the NCS Headquarters on July 10, 2024.

Hon. Leke Abejide, Chairman of the House Committee, lauded the NCS for its impressive revenue collection, effective trade facilitation, and vigilant border security. He specifically highlighted the recent interception of arms and ammunition at a Bonded Terminal in Onne Port, Rivers State, and a similar seizure at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos State. These actions, he noted, have potentially saved countless Nigerian lives and demonstrated the exceptional dedication of NCS personnel.

Hon. Abejide urged NCS officers to remain vigilant, stating, “Every weapon and illicit item seized is a victory, but every attempt to smuggle them into Nigeria is a call to redouble our efforts.” He also announced plans to probe the activities of Bonded Terminals and Free Trade Zones (FTZ) to eradicate illegal businesses.

In response, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi expressed gratitude for the Committee’s recognition. He emphasized the critical role of legislative oversight in ensuring the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of NCS operations. “Your feedback and recommendations are crucial to our efforts to streamline our processes to improve our efficiency and uphold the highest standard of integrity and services,” he stated.

Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, provided a detailed breakdown of NCS’s achievements. She reported that the NCS generated 2.742 trillion naira in the first half of 2024, surpassing the target of 2.539 trillion naira. The average daily revenue collection was 27.5 billion naira, exceeding the target of 19.460 billion naira. This success was attributed to teamwork and measures to block revenue leakages.

Niagwan also mentioned the upgrade of trade facilitation tools to Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programs, rewarding reliable and compliant traders with expedited customs processes.

Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection, and Investigation, Bello Jibo, highlighted the achievements of ‘Operation Whirlwind,’ which led to numerous seizures of petroleum products. He noted the NCS’s collaboration with the NNPC and other security agencies to enhance its operations.

Assistant-Comptroller General in charge of Information and Communication Technology, Kikelomo Adeola, revealed that officers developed an application for e-auctions and emphasized ongoing capacity-building programs under the Trade Modernization Project.

The NCS’s recent achievements in revenue generation and security operations underscore its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders and supporting the country’s economic growth.

Hyacinth Beluchukwu Nwafor

Hyacinth Beluchukwu Nwafor is a seasoned journalist and the CEO/Founder Belch Digital Communications, publishers of Hybrid News Nigeria.

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