Customs rakes in N112 billion at TinCan port
By Eniola Idris
The TinCan Island command of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS), has generated about N112.7 billion into the Federal Government in the first quarter of 2021.
Customs Area Controller, TinCan Island Command, Mba Musa, said the earnings showed an improvement of about N21.05billion (23%) when compared with revenue of N91billion in the first quarter of the previous year 2020.
He said that despite the twin threat to lives and livelihood posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the command has inspired their officers to continue to work hard while observing all the safety measures to achieve the best of performance through the use of technology and collaboration.
“We kept our lines of communication open and concerted effort was made to ensure that the supply chain is not disrupted,” he said.
Musa stated that the anti-smuggling activities of the command yielded results with a spectacular seizure of cocaine weighing 43.110kg concealed in raw bulk sugar and arrest of 20 suspects in connection with the seizure and detaining of the vessel MV SPAR SCORPIO.
He however, stated that the command has handed over the case file, suspects and the vessel to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Besides, he said the command has put measures in place with a view to ensuring that legitimate trades are given expeditious attention.
Musa added that the Dispute Resolution Committee and the Help Desk has been re-jigged with a mandate to attend very expeditiously to all trade related disputes.
“We have also reinvigorated the use of inter-modal transport system (Use of Barges for cargo movement in line with global best practices),” he said.