Customs Generates N1.293trn Revenue in Six months – Official

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it has generated N1.293 trillion in the first six months of 2022 into the Federation Account.

The NCS Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Timi Bomodi said this at a news conference in Abuja.

He said the amount was an increase compared to N1.004 trillion generated for the corresponding period in 2021.

According to him, the amount generated in 2022 surpassed the service’s achievements for 2021 by N48 billion accounting for 28.8 per cent.

He said the revenue generation was remarkable, given the fact that only 116,691 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) were issued against 129, 667 processed within same period of 2021.

“The revenue target given to the Nigeria Customs Service for the year 2022 is N3.019 trillion, exceeding the target for 2021 by 80.78 per cent,” he said.

Bomodi said that the sum of N156 billion was also generated into the non-federation account as collections on behalf of other government agencies.

While giving a breakdown of the amount generated within the period under review, the PRO said it was generated from excise, free trade zones and industrial incentives, and anti-smuggling among others.

On excise, free trade zones and industrial incentives, Bomodi said excise duty was tax levied on the manufacture, sale and consumption of goods under excise control.

He said it was collected through 22 commands of the Service.

The PRO said that a total of N68 billion was collected from manufacturers of alcoholic beverages as well as cigarettes and tobacco among other products

“In the month of June, the service began collections from extant traders producing carbonated and sugary drinks newly added under schedule five of the CET.

“So far, the service has collected more than N1 billion from carbonated and sugary drinks in the month of June.

“Other revenues from telecommunication, like call and data and digital network services are yet to be collected.

“The service is expected to start collecting revenue on these products and services as soon as the modalities for collection are put in place.

“Duties from these revenue sources are expected to boost our collections in the current year,” he said.

ZBomodi also said that out of the 42 free trade zones in Nigeria, only 25 were active, with 15 of them operating in Zone ‘A’, 4 in Zone ‘B’, 5 in Zone ‘C’ and 1 in Zone ‘D’.

On enforcement and anti-smuggling, Bomodi said in the period under review various goods with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N39 billion were seized due to policy infringements.

He said the top seven items seized were narcotics and other illicit drugs with a DPV of N8.8 billion, followed by foreign parboiled rice with a DPV of N8.3 billion.

The PRO said that illegal import of dangerous pharmaceuticals with a DPV of N7.6 billion were seized, including used clothing with a DPV of N4 billion and petroleum products with a DPV of N4 billion.

According to him, textiles and made up fabrics with a DPV of three billion Naira and motor vehicles with a DPV of N2 billion were seized.

Bomodi said the DPV value of seizures in the current year exceeded the ones made in 2021 by N34.8 billion.

On anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism, he said the service made seizures of $339,800, 12,000 Pounds, 3.013 million Ryad, 20,005 CFA and 133 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

He said that seven persons were arrested in violation of the Anti-Money laundering Act and were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

August 17, 2022