TinCan Customs Command Generates N274.32bn In Six Months

The TinCan Island Port Customs Command generated N274.32 billion between January and June 2022, representing a 27.50 per cent increase when compared with N229.32 billion collected in the corresponding period of 2021.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Olakunle Oloyede, who gave this figure on Friday in his office while briefing Journalists on activities of the command during the year under review, said various seizures and detentions were also made.
According to him enforcement and anti –smuggling activities has received a boost under his supervision resulting in various seizures, arrests and detentions.
“These include 145kg of Colorado (Indian hemp) concealed in two units of Ridgeline trucks and two units of Toyota Corolla vehicles, 206,000 pieces of machetes, 640 bales of used clothes, 236,500 pieces of used shoes and 62,500 pieces of new lady’s shoes.
“Others are 1,670,400 pieces of chloroquine injections (5mg/5ml), 1,814,400 pieces Novalgen injection (500mg/5ml), 48,850 rolls of cigarettes and 23,800 tins of sodium bromate & baking powder.
“In addition to the above other detentions made include 3,303 pieces of motor batteries found in three containers falsely declared as three units of used Toyota Hiace buses, four units of used Mack truck heads, one unit of used Sequoia 2008 model, one unit of used Mercedes Benz GL450 2008 model and one unit of used 2011 Toyota 4Runner”, he said.
He noted that the service handed over one suspect, one arm pistol gun, two empty magazines and 300 rounds of live ammunition to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further action.
He pointed out that the import of the seizures and items detained contravened Sections 46, 47& 161 of the Customs & Excise Management. Act (CEMA) Cap 45 LFN 2004.
“The Duty Paid Value of the total seizures amounted to N1, 301,901,685.12.
“It is important to acknowledge the critical role played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation unit, Customs Strike force, FOU as well as interventions by sister regulatory agencies such as NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, SON, the Nigerian Police in making these seizures and detentions,” the Controller said.
He said the Command has so far experienced an increase in export activities for the first half of the year.
“The Command recorded an outward throughput in the export cargo of 138,246.50 metric tonnes representing an increase by 73 per cent from 100,500 metric tonnes recorded in 2021, with a Free on Board value of N100, 447,304,814.00. This also represents an increase of 60 per cent from N66, 294,630,421 recorded in the fiscal year 2022.
“We commend the Nigeria Ports Authority management for their seamless collaboration in facilitating the clearance process of export-related cargo,” he said.
On the Vehicle Identification Number Valuation service, he said that after the initial challenges faced in the implementation of the VIN-valuation had helped the command to achieve an expedited clearance process.
He added that this was due to predictability of value-assessment, increase in revenue generation, improved ease of doing business, generation of accurate statistics for the Federal Government and a host of others.