The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has facilitated exports worth N1,032,601,044,744.00 at Tin Can Island Port (TCIP).
The Customs Area Controller, TCIP Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, who revealed this during the Command’s half year press briefing which held at the secretariat of Maritime Reporter’s Association of Nigeria (MARAN) said this was part of its efforts to balance the nation’s foreign trade.
Breaking down the figures, he said: “The total Free On Board (FOB) value of NXP for commercial goods exported through Tin Can Island Ports in the first half of 2024 is N1,032,601,044,744.00 and a total volume of 489,594.50 Metric Tons (MT) as against export value of first half 2023 of N182,333,764,943.00 with a total volume of 291,436MT.
“In terms of value, Soyabeans was the highest export commodity worth N 92,059,078,980.00 while self adhesive was the lowest export commodity with a value of N17,560,865.00.”
Nnadi said the high export figures for 2024 is attributable to the high degree of stakeholders engagement, accessibility of the Tin Can Island/Mile 2 port access roads, improved efficiency from the Command’s officials, and other innovations.
He also noted that Tin Can Island Customs amassed N575bilion revenue in the first six months of 2024, which represents 221.13 per cent increase when compared to 2023 figures.
“This 2024 half-year revenue represents an increase of N315, 248,670,683.90bn from the sum of N260,256,942,120.69 billion revenue generated in the corresponding period in 2023.
“This aligned with the statutory functions of the Service in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement/anti-smuggling activities.
“Customs, being the lead agency at the ports through its enforcement unit has coordinated several 100 per cent physical examination under my supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure that the Command is freed of any form of non-compliance to the international trade cycle,” the Tin Can Island CAC explained.
Some of the items seized include three plastic drums concealing several packets of Cannabis Indica, 46 bags containing 2144 packets of Cannabis Indica all weighing 1,072kg imported from Canada.
The approximate street value of the illicit substances is N3, 216,000,000.00 valued at N3.216billion.
While noting that the total Duty Paid Value of all the seizures amounted to N8.9billion, Nnadi pointed out that the significance of the seizures is not the amount but the ability to stop the injection of those illicit drugs, arms and ammunitions into the country.
Nnadi noted that there have been modest gains and developments at TCIP since the launch of the Time Release Study (TRS) at the Command, even though he asserted that the findings will be formally released by the Comptroller General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi.
He however, stressed the need for more stakeholders involvement in TRS initiative.
Equally, he co-opted MARAN as one of its strategic partners for TRS, while he encouraged the association to continue playing a strategic role in ensuring the development of the port sector.