Customs Boss Highlights Scorecard in the Last One Year

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Wednesday, unveiled the lofty achievements his management team has recorded, in the last one year.

Adeniyi was appointed as Customs’ helmsman by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2023.

He clocked a year in office today, and spoke about his exemplary stewardship at a press conference in Abuja.

The Customs boss shed light on the policy measures his team is implementing to help rejuvenate the country’s economy.

He said one of the leading policy measures implemented under the guidance of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, was the transition from the repealed Customs and Excise Act of 2004 to the newly-signed Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023.

“This new act strengthens the
modernization of NCS operations, compliance, and enforcement, with features that promote innovation within the Service.

“This included extensive sensitization efforts for all stakeholders involved in the customs process, ensuring they were informed about the new laws and had a clear understanding of the implications of the features introduced in the NCS Act of 2023,” he said.

In response to the declaration of a state of emergency on revenue
collection, Adeniyi noted that several revenue-enhancing measures were implemented.

“Notably, a 90-day window was approved by the President, through the Honourable Minister of Finance, allowing owners of uncustomed vehicles to pay appropriate duties on previously imported vehicles.

“This initiative followed the establishment of a Revenue Review Performance Recovery team tasked with recovering potential post-revenue from pending transactions with Customs.

“The NCS also implemented measures to address national security concerns. These measures include strengthening and reinforcing the Federal
Operating Units to pursue, intercept, arrest, and dismantle smuggling networks,” he said.

The Service has also enhanced its reliance on intelligence sharing and
collaborations both nationally and internationally to tackle security-related issues, particularly in the illicit trade of arms, ammunition, drugs, and wildlife.

Said CGC Adeniyi: “Recently, there has been a renewed focus on dismantling powerful cartels in the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

“This has led to ongoing collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in the NCS-led operation “Whirlwind.”

“The NCS continues to promote collaborations with traditional and new stakeholders both nationally and internationally across various forums.

“One such initiative was the revival of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC’s) Conference, graced by the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, in December.

“This event brought together a wide range of stakeholders involved in the customs clearance process to engage constructively, culminating in the Lagos Continental document, where pressing issues were identified, and responsible parties committed to resolving them”.

It is the most heartwarming that the NCS also took the lead in reviving the activities of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, hosting and supporting various engagements of the committee.

According to Adeniyi, the NCS established new frontiers of interagency cooperation with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), finalizing arrangements to integrate both systems to minimize the registration of smuggled vehicles.

“The Service also commenced engagement with critical stakeholders like the Health Federation of Nigeria (HFN), with the support of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to facilitate the clearance of medical goods.

“Also, the NCS reported a remarkable 74% growth in revenue collection over the past year, recording a total revenue collection of N4.49 trillion between June 2023 and May 2024, compared to the N2.58 trillion collected during the corresponding period of the previous year.

“This achievement was underpinned by a sustained increase of 70.13% in average monthly revenue collection compared to the previous year. NCS
recorded an average monthly revenue collection of N 343 billion, compared to the N 202 billion monthly average.

“Notably, there was a substantial 122.35% rise in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year,” he said.