LAGOS: Tincan Island Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is one of the units that has made significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy in revenue generation and trade facilitation. Since the on-going reforms by NCS began, Tincan has recorded outstanding increase in revenue collection for the economy. Sunday Vanguard, on a visit to the Command gathered that aside from previous statistics of income generation, Tincan raked in over N240.1billion in 2013, N284.2 in 2014 and N61.6 billion between January and March 2015.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), of the Command, Comptroller Zakare Jubrin, speaks on the positive impact that the reforms made on revenue collection, anti-smuggling campaign, trade facilitation, risk management and general Customs operations. He gives insight into the economic benefits that Nigeria stands to get from implementation of the new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET)
To begin with, Customs operations under the current management are very efficient because everything is modernised to work in line with global best practice. Most Customs procedures now are computerised, to fast track examination and release of cargos from the port. Notwithstanding, the elections also affected our Command because we experienced little reduction in revenue inflow during that period.
However, the elections are over and activities are picking up well at Tincan. The consignments in the port were left here before the elections. The reason was that, the owners decided to leave them in the port, because they believe the items would be secured in the port than their warehouses. Now that the elections are over, they are already coming for them.
The directive from the CGC on enforcement of CET is a good initiative, because Nigeria as the fastest growing economy in the sub-region stands to benefit a lot in terms of boosting revenue generation for our economy. Aside from increased revenue collection for Nigeria, full implementation of the new tariff would promote national productivity and industrial growth for member countries.
This would be achieved through reduction of customs duties on items like raw materials required for industries. It would also enhance trade facilitation within the sub-region, and would pave the way for improvement in implementation of ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS), aims at having a regional Customs union. Another good thing is that the new ECOWAS tariff can be seen as an instrument for harmonising import policies of countries within the sub-region.
The efforts of the CGC in reforming the Service should be commended. Dikko has done so well in repositioning NCS for greater productivity in the areas of introducing good operational policies, capacity building programmes within and out side the country, promotion of officers, welfare package and provision of sufficient work tools to enhance efficiency in the system. For example, NCS gained international recognition in the World Customs Organisation (WCO), following the reforms embarked upon by the current management, introduction of Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) and the use of modern information communications technology in Customs procedures.
