WE WILL REMAIN UPBEAT IN NIPPING ARMS SMUGGLING IN THE BUD; AS COMPT ANANI ANNOUNCES N137.298 BILLION REVENUE IN AUGUST ALONE
The seizure of several arms and ammunition, especially the 600 rifles just intercepted by the command has a national security implication.
Area Controller of the Tin can Island command, Compt Joe Anani told members of the League of Maritime Editors who were on courtesy visit that the command is more than ever determined to nip insecurity in the bud through its interventionist mandate.
He also disclosed that the command generated a total of N137.298 billion in the month of August, noting that more revenue will be generated in the months ahead.
The Area Controller, Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Joe Anani, has described the recent seizure of more than 600 rifles by the Command as an operation with serious national security implications, saying the significance of the interception went far beyond an ordinary Customs enforcement achievement.
Anani, who spoke on Tuesday when the newly elected executive members of the League of Maritime Editors (LOME), led by its President, Mr Felix Kumuyi, paid a courtesy visit to the Command, said the seizure underscored the critical role of Customs officers in protecting Nigerians from dangerous and prohibited items.
According to him, the prominence given to the seizure by maritime journalists was particularly important because it helped Nigerians understand the security dimension of Customs operations and the risks posed by the movement of prohibited arms through the nation’s ports.
“One area where we have seen this very clearly is in your reportage of the recent seizure of over 600 rifles by the Command. That seizure was not just another operational achievement; it was an incident with serious national security implications,” Anani said.
He added that the Command appreciated the League for giving the incident the attention it deserved, noting that such reporting helped the public appreciate the vigilance and commitment of Customs officers and the sacrifices they make in preventing dangerous items from reaching Nigerian communities.
“By reporting that seizure, you helped the public to appreciate the vigilance and commitment of our officers, as well as the sacrifices they make every day to ensure that dangerous and prohibited items do not find their way into our communities,” he said.
The Controller’s remarks place the seizure in a broader context of the Command’s responsibilities beyond revenue collection, particularly its role in securing the nation’s maritime gateway and preventing the infiltration of prohibited goods capable of undermining public safety.
While the security operation has attracted considerable attention, Anani also disclosed that the Command generated ₦137.298 billion in revenue in August, representing more than 70 per cent of its monthly revenue target.
He gave the exact figure as ₦137,298,119,078.66, describing the performance as part of the Command’s continuing contribution to national revenue while balancing its fiscal responsibilities with trade facilitation and enforcement.
Anani said the Command remain committed to facilitating legitimate trade, stressing that its objective was to create an environment in which compliant importers and other port users could conduct business efficiently while Customs continued to deal with infractions and prohibited trade.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to an open-door policy, saying the Command would remain accessible to stakeholders and willing to engage on issues capable of improving the clearance process and promoting legitimate commerce.
The Controller commended LOME for what he described as its consistent and professional reportage of the activities of the Command, saying the League’s coverage had helped deepen public understanding of the multifaceted responsibilities of the Customs Service.
Your coverage has helped Nigerians to better understand the work we do, particularly our responsibilities in revenue generation, trade facilitation and, importantly, national security,” he said.
Anani also congratulated the new executive of the League, led by Kumuyi, even as he acknowledged the contributions of the immediate past President, Mrs Remi Itie, to the development of maritime journalism and the association. He said the Command looked forward to continued cooperation with the League, urging maritime journalists to remain objective, responsible and professional in their reporting.
Responding, Kumuyi commended Anani for what he described as notable achievements since assuming leadership of the Command, particularly in the areas of enforcement and revenue generation.
The League President cited the Command’s seizures, including arms and illicit drugs, as well as its revenue performance, noting that the developments had continued to attract attention within the maritime sector.
Kumuyi assured the Controller that the League would continue to collaborate with the Command in professionally communicating its activities to the public, as it had done under previous administrations.
The visit marked one of the first official engagements of the new LOME executive with a major Customs command since its emergence under Kumuyi’s leadership.