Customs generates N1.5trn in 2020, despite border closure

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that it generated a revenue of N1.5 trillion for the year 2020, a rise compared to N1.3 trillion in 2019. This is contained in a statement by, Mr Joseph Attah, Customs Public Relations Officer, in Abuja on Wednesday. The Customs spokesman, citing the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali, said the increased revenue was a result of the Service’s will to adapt in the face of challenges posed by a global pandemic. “We also insist on strict enforcement of extant guidelines by the tariff and trade department and Automation of the Customs process, thereby eliminating vices associated with the manual process.

“Others are robust stakeholder sensitisation resulting in more informed and voluntary compliance as well as increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above selves. He also stated that the closure which has forced cargoes that could have been smuggled through the porous borders to come through the sea and airports raised revenue collection from ports. “Before the commencement of the border drill on 20th August 2019, revenue generation was between four billion to five billion Naira, but now NCS generates between five billion to nine billion Naira daily.

“Diplomatic engagements that took place during the partial land border closure yielded many positive results, including commitment to comply with the ECOWAS Protocol on Transit and operationalisation of joint border patrols at both sides of the border. The teams are required to share intelligence and ensure prevention of transit of prohibited goods into the neighbour’s territory,” he added. The Customs also disclosed that the introduction of the e-Customs service, including scanners and other technology at border posts would help increase trade and revenue of the agency. In 2020 that no less than N1.341 trillion was generated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as revenue for the year 2019, exceeding its target of N937 billion by N404 billion.