The Nigeria Customs Service under the Comptroller General (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi has reported a huge record of N4.49 trillion as the total revenue collection between June 2023 and May 2024.
The figure represents a remarkable 74 per cent growth in revenue collection compared to the N2.58 trillion collected during the corresponding period of the previous year.
The CGC while addressing the press on Wednesday on his performance in the last one year of assumption of office as the Comptroller General of Customs said this achievement was underpinned by a sustained increase of 70.13 per cent in average monthly revenue collection compared to the previous year.
“NCS recorded an average monthly revenue collection of N 343 billion compared to the N202 billion monthly average. Notably, there was a substantial 122.35 per cent rise in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year,” he stated.
Adeniyi attributed these gains to various strategic initiatives, including N15 billion Recovery by the Revenue Review Performance Recovery exercise; N 2.79 billion recovered from the 90-day window for the regularisation of the documents of uncustomed vehicles; and N 1.5 billion recovered from the decongestion of 1,705 overtime containers and 981 vehicles from the port.
He also attributed the gains to the worthy daily All-Time-High of N58.5 billion in revenue collection that the NCS recorded on June 13, 2024; as well as the deployment of officers to sensitive posts on the basis of merit and capacity.
Continuing, the CGC said that significant achievements were made in Trade Facilitation in the area of the decongestion of ports and the reopening of previously inaccessible access roads.
Particularly noteworthy according to him, is the NCS’s recent ranking of 100 per cent under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which aims to streamline business operations in Nigeria through reforms and policies.
He said: “Ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are ranked by activities under eight broad indicator levels, including efficiency reforms based on service delivery within stipulated timelines, transparency reforms, the review and update of Service Level Agreements, and support for manufacturing and agriculture export.
“Between 2020 and 2022, the NCS maintained an average percentage score of 18.45 per cent, ranking 28th out of the 37 MDAs ranked. By 2023, the NCS ranking fell further to 34th out of 39 MDAs, with a percentage score of 18.53 per cent.
“However, by 2024, I am delighted to announce that the NCS moved up 33 places, now tied at the top with four other MDAs out of the 36 MDAs assessed, with a percentage score of 100 per cent, marking a 81.5 per cent increase.”
Adeniyi attributed the remarkable improvement directly to the trade facilitation measures implemented within the past year, promising that the NCS remains committed to ensuring that all recommendations and global best practices are implemented to the highest standard.
Similarly, he said the designation of a dedicated terminal for exports has yielded significant gains, facilitating the processing of export goods through the Lilypond command that initially was handling 317 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) in transactions, but now the terminal manages 7,464 SGDs, accounting for 19.49 per cent of the total 38,294 export transactions recorded in 2023.
“By the first quarter of 2024, the Service has processed a total of 10,786 transactions, with 3,162 (29.32 per cent) of these processed through the dedicated export terminal,” he stated.
With focus on protecting the society, the Customs boss noted that the NCS has intensified its anti-smuggling efforts in the past year, resulting in significant interceptions, high-value seizures, and numerous arrests.
He recalled the notable 63 seizures related to animal and wildlife products valued at ₦566 million and seven more seizures of arms and ammunition made through our ports and borders, adding that in terms of illicit drugs, a combined total of 127 cases involving narcotics and pharmaceutical products were seized, valued at over ₦6 billion.
Recalling the 724 seizures of 2.93 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) attempted to be smuggled out of the country, Adeniyi assured that the ongoing ‘operation whirlwind’ will continue to intercept and disrupt the activities of smugglers in this regard.
In a bid to guarantee food security and suppress the smuggling of food in and out of the country, he announced that the Service recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grain seizures valued at ₦4.4 billion, the concerted efforts underscoring the NCS’ commitment to protecting society and ensuring national security.
On collaboration, he said the 81.5 per cent gain in the Service reform indices under the PEBEC ranking can be attributed to the recent trade facilitation and collaborative engagements of the NCS. “These efforts have led to smoother operations with stakeholders, facilitated by regular interactions,” he said.
Other achievements under Adeniyi’s one year as the CGC include the routine instituted by the NCS to update the public on its activities through quarterly reports.
In the area of health, he disclosed that at the most recent engagement with the Health Federation of Nigeria (HFN), greater cooperation and collaboration were emphasised, particularly to reduce the cost and time for medicament clearance.
Also stakeholders, according to him, agreed to develop specific clearance procedures for medicaments and to institutionalise a platform with customs for setting up a special corridor dedicated to the clearance of healthcare products.
Looking ahead, the CGC reassured Nigerians that the measures the Service has implemented, and the results so far, are well-intended and designed to yield positive benefits for the overall well-being of the nation.
He said: “When the NCS facilitates trade and reduces the costs and encumbrances importers face, it translates to lower costs for importers, which should eventually reflect in price reductions for consumers.
“While these gains may experience some lag due to factors beyond our control, such as transportation, infrastructure, and information asymmetry, we remain committed to our role.
“This is why the NCS is also focused on plugging leakages and improving revenue collection to support the funding of the government’s objectives and initiatives to build and upgrade infrastructure and invest in other essential schemes, including social welfare.”