The Tin Can Island Customs Command still proved it remains the second largest seaport command in terms of revenue generation as it made N574 billion last year.
This figure indicates a 16.33 per cent increase from its corresponding revenue of 2021.
Adekunle Oloyede, the Command’s helmsman told newsmen today that this was in view of tough economic situation in the past one year.
He disclosed that the revenue feat was consequent on the constant rejigging of existing measures aimed at sustaining the Command’s revenue status.
“The Command collected N574,290,210,599.38 between January to December, 2022. This figure when compared to the N493,682,369,264.35 collected in 2021 indicated an increase of N80,607,841,335.03,” Comptroller Oloyede said.
According to him, some of the strategic measures introduced in 2022 include; periodic capacity building, reshuffling and redeployment of officers using the SWOT analysis, implementation of the VIN Valuation, Automation of the 546 procedure, re-introduction of the NIIT after deployment of a Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology Equipment to the Command, Proper Profiling, System Audit, Proper recheck or Examination and detailed but clearly inputted Inspection Acts, among others.
He also opined that continuous stakeholder engagements and collaboration with all sister government enabled the Command to sniff out improper declarations as well as offending items as seizures, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N41,846,372,083.50, were intercepted.
The seizures comprise; 763pkgs of Colarado (Cannabis Sativa) weighing 345.1kg with a street market value of N714,600,000 given by the NDLEA, 5 x 40 Containers of used Motor Tyre (5050 pistes), 1,150 Bales of second hand clothings, 1,190 Cartons of 20per Cartons of Possuem Bromate and Baking Powder, 11,392 Cartons of 1200 per Carton Armcol Injection Chiproquine Phosphate 322.5mg/5ml (IV and IM), 206,000 pieces of finished matchets, 1383 cartons of 50 rolls per carton of cigarettes.
Other seizures were; 650 cartons of 50 pieces per carton of new ladies shoes, 2.666 pieces in 36 pallets of new Starter Ex-Premium Inverter Battery, 1980 cartons of Assorted Non-Alcoholic Beverages and 1048 Cartons of Tilde Basmatic Rice, others include 2594 pieces of Ammunition and 20 pieces of Arms comprising of 1 Pistol with 611090 (S/W) model JCP 40mm, 1 Used Co2 Air Pistol with accessories cal 117(4.5m)BM, 1 Marksman repeater pistol, & Mace pepper gun and 10 suspected arms of various types.
The 2022 seizure record when compared with the 2021 record of 27 seizures with a DN of N607,267,617.00) only, showed an increase of eleven (11) seizures and N1,239,104,466.50.
Comptroller Oloyede, however, opined that the increase in DPV rate could be associated with increased surveillance and intensified anti-smuggling drive, high value of seized items and the Naira-Dollar depreciation which leads to high exchange rate on imported items.
While applauding the Command’s officers for their diligence in 2022, the Area Controller assured that in 2023 the Command will remain a conducive, friendly and calm atmosphere for the trading public.
Oloyede also disclosed that about 60 suspects were arrested and later granted administrative bail in connection with the seizures during the year, while the Command has 8 cases pending in court.