Tin Can Island Port

By John Iwori

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command, Apapa, Lagos has said it generated N18.4 billion revenue in August 2012.

This was against the N17.3 billion revenue it recorded in July this year.
Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Chris Osunkwo, who disclosed this in Lagos said that only N17.8 billion was realised in the same month in 2011.

Osunkwo said that the increase in revenue in August this year was as a result of dedication of men and officers of the command who have not relented in the discharge of their statutory roles and responsibilities.

He also attributed the increase in the revenue generated by the command to the present leadership of the command and the co-operation of Customs Headquarters, Abuja.

His words: “The right leadership in Tin Can Island Port Command Area led by the Customs Area Controller, as well as the support and good motivation by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi have made everybody to work very hard in revenue collection as well as anti-smuggling activities. Four days to the end of August, we were on our toes because our revenue figure was about 14 billion. We are grateful to God that all our efforts were not in vain because we were able to generate N18.4 billion at the end of the month”.

Osunkwo who has served many CACs in the command said that the service had been adopting persuasive approach to re-orientate importers to ensure that they always do what is right in their transaction in the command.

He maintained that the methods and strategies adopted by the TCIP Command had been helpful in the command quest to achieve its set goals and objectives.

The Public Relations Officer said that the Comptroller General of Customs had told stakeholders to comply with the rules and regulations of NCS.

Osunkwo also disclosed that the command recorded 63 seizures between January and August whose duty paid value (DPV) stood at N2.9 billion.
According to him, the seizures included vehicles, furniture, soaps, used tyres, washing machines, used electronics, computer bags, second-hand clothes, refrigerators and women bags.

He stated that the NCS, TCIP Command would not relent in its efforts to do more in the months ahead to  increase the revenue it generates into the coffers of the Federal Government.

THISDAY had reported that the command generated N14.5 billion in January, N19.2 billion in February, N19 billion in March, N15.2 billion in April, N17.1billion in May, N18.3 billion in June, and N17.3 billion in July this year.