TheCable

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it generated the sum of N1.341 trillion as revenue in 2019.

In a statement released on Thursday, Joseph Attah, the service’s public relations officer, said the amount generated was more than the N969.831 billion target set for the year.

According to the statement, Hameed Ali, the Customs comptroller general, attributed the performance to the resolute pursuit of what was right rather than compromising national interest on the altar of individual or group’s interests.

Ali said the revenue generation profile has been on the rise annually as reforms were being implemented.

According to him, automation of the customs process and robust stakeholders’ sensitisation resulted in more informed and voluntary compliance had helped to boost revenue.

“The partial border closure which has forced cargoes that could have been smuggled through the porous borders to come through the sea and airports raised revenue collection of ports,” he said.

“Before the commencement of the border drill on August 20, 2019, revenue generation was between N4 billion to N5 billion but now, the service generates between N5 billion to N7 billion daily.

“The partial border closure is a decisive action against the challenging issue of trans-border crime and criminalities, fueled by the noncompliance to ECOWAS Protocol on the transit of goods by neighbouring countries.

“The NCS hopes that the ongoing discussions with our neighbours will yield a permanent solution to the challenges of border security.

“The service wishes to express its readiness to strictly implement the outcome of the ongoing diplomatic engagements.”

Attah urged Nigerians, especially the business community, to support customs on the ongoing drive to robustly contribute to national security and create enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.