ABUJA: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N909.9 million in first month of 2015. Its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Ernest Olottah, told The Nation that the amount was 13.92 per cent higher than the N783.2 million collected in the corresponding period in 2014. “In the month of January, we generated so much because trading activities were high since it is the beginning of the year.
“As the year goes on, our revenue generation would get higher and we will definitely be able to surpass our monthly target of N1.1 billion,” he said. Olottah said the command generated N9.6 billion in 2014, adding that the figure was 3.4 billion less than the N13 billion targets for the year. He assured that the command would surpass the N13 billion target set for it this year. He said the command made 52 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) N14.5 million. “The items that were seized included cars, hard drugs, rice, vegetable oil, paints, second hand clothes, frozen poultry products and general goods.
The image maker urged Nigerians to desist from smuggling due to its adverse effect on the economy. “Smuggling isn’t good for the economy, so we must work together to save our economy and embrace legitimate trade. “In the course of importing and exporting any products, protocol must be observed by paying levies and duties to the Nigeria Customs Service as required by the law,” Olottah said.
