LAGOS: Ship-loadedThe Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said that it generated N61.6 billion revenue in the first quarter of 2015.
Mr Chris Osunkwo, the Public Relations Officer of the command, stated this in an interview in Lagos.
Osunkwo said that the amount was higher compared to N59.8 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2014.
“ For first quarter 2014, we had N59.8 billion, and then for this year first quarter, we have N61.6 billion; and the difference is attributable to quality leadership .
“Both in the command and at the Headquarters levels, because when you provide the right leadership every other thing falls in line.
In Tin Can Island Port, we deal with two categories of cargo imports. They are from general cargo and packed and unpacked vehicles.
“Bulk of the general cargo that comes in here forms source of our revenue.
“There is nothing apart from prohibited items. All of us know that we run an import-oriented economy. So, almost everything you find in the market that we use here are imported.
“So, and as these come in, customs collect maximum revenue.’’
He said that the new automotive policy had adversely affected the volume of vehicles imported, but, however, did not affect revenue collection.
“The new auto policy has drastically affected the volume of vehicles that come in, because that is exactly what government objective is to do; whatever is possible to reduce.
“They are trying to establish auto-manufacturing. The new auto policy has really achieved this objective, because if you check our RORO facilities, they are almost without vehicles now. The volume has really gone down.
“Government definitely has an objective before they came up with the new auto policy and I think it is achieving its desired goal by reducing the volume of imported vehicles.
“As we learnt, government intends establishing auto- manufacturing industries here to encourage local production, so that we can expand our production base.
“It could be painful initially, but in the long run when you look at the short term, you look at the medium term, you look at the long term dividends of this policy.’’
He said that in the long run, Nigerians would enjoy the benefit of the automotive policy, adding that it would make Made-In-Nigeria cars to be cheaper than imported ones.
Osunkwo said that the command sometimes faced some challenges with the stakeholders in the implementation of government policies, in spite of the sensitisation programmes carried out by the service.
According to him, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) on goods by Customs is designed to ensure integrity in order to drive business climate.
This, he said, had made the cost of compliance to be cheaper than non-compliance.
