Story by Dili Utomi.
The conference room was packed with officers, journalists, freight forwarders and other stakeholders this morning as the Ports Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service held its first press conference of the year.
The outgoing Customs Area Controller of the Command, the newly promoted acting Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Customs Board, headquarters, Suleiman A. Bomoi while addressing the gathering said that “It is imperative to state that the implementation of all government policies and directives are ongoing with increasing degree of compliance being recorded so far”.
He declared that “In 2022, the Command generated a total revenue of Two Hundred and Twenty Nine Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Nine Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Six Naira, Ninety Seven Kobo (#229,473,912,976.97) only. He noted that this figure represents about 96% of the revenue target of Two Hundred and Thirty Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Four Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Thirty Eight Naira (#238,224,920,038.88k) only that was set for 2021, but adopted by the Command in 2022″. The figure shows an increase of Five Billion, Three Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty Three Naira (#5,003,799,243.00K)
over the revenue of 2021 which stood at Two Hundred and Twenty Four Billion, Four Hundred and Seventy Million, One Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Three Naira (#224,470,113,733.00k) only, a figure that also represents 2.2% increase in revenue over the previous year”.
Acting ACG Bomoi also added that the PTML Command in the out gone year handled export goods such as cocoa, sesame seeds, palm oil and numerous food items with a total tonnage of 178,572.13 metric tonnes with a total free on board (FOB) value of Two Hundred and Forty Nine Million, Four Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Four Dollars, Fifty Two Cents ($249,419,604.52) only in 2022. This is against the 2021 figure of 147,574.11 metric tonnes with a total FOB value of One Billion, Four Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twelve Dollars, Fifty Cents ($1,452,821,912.50) only.
Seizures made over the period under review include, 1×40 ft container containing three used vehicles that were used to conceal two fire arms, one used Ford Edge containing fire arm and thirty rounds of live cartridges, one used Toyota Sienna containing fire arm and one used Toyota Corolla containing ninety rounds of live ammunition, all with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Thirty Six Million, Three Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty Five Naira (#36,316,155.00) only. Six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, but they are currently on administrative bail.
The acting ACG Customs Board also said that the Command has continued to maintain cordial relationships with the various government agencies like the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and others and has effectively functioned as the lead agency towards the policy of ease of doing business at the Port. He also added that the Command has also closely interacted with their strategic stakeholders like the importers, exporters, concessionaire, the bonded terminal operators freight forwarders and others.
Acting ACG Bomoi stated that though the officers and men of the Command do put in their very best, but there are still some challenges that that should be taken care of so that the Command can do more, these he said are, lack of scanners and inadequate space, he also pointed to the issue of down time occasioned by the suspension of services by the freight forwarders and the inability of some importers to clear their vehicles from their control.
Meanwhile, acting ACG Bomoi handed over to the new Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Ali Mahmoud Ibrahim after the press briefing. Acting ACG Bomoi while handing over advised CAC Ibrahim to continue with the qualities that he has been known for assuring him that the officers and men of the Command will also give him the needed support.
CAC Ibrahim on his own part said “I will try to fill the big shoes that you have left behind, I am aslo using this medium to solicit for the support of everyone within this Command”. He added that those who are in the Command will not understand the magnitude of the responsibility that the headship of the Command requires and so hopes and prays that they shall all collectively work together for more successes.
For advert placement and more information please call us on 08027590195, 08035721540 or email us at greatalternativenigltd@gmail.com or send us messages on twitter @dn_utomi or on instagram @utomidili
