By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs service Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Command has raised the bar to an unprecedented height in 2024, with the collection of (50,847,625,597.08) Fifty billion, Eight hundred and forty-seven million, Six hundred and twenty-five thousand, five hundred and ninety-seven thousand and eight kobo only.
A press statement made available to newsmen, Friday 10th January, 2025 by Comptroller Comfort Ukpanah, Customs Area Controller for Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi Command states that; This figure represents over 50% increase in Revenue collection when compared to that of the preceding year 2023 with the collection of 27,954,707,493.00 (Twenty-seven billion, nine hundred and fifty-four million, seven hundred and seven thousand, four hundred and ninety-three naira only, a feat ever achieved, since the inception of the command.
According to the statement, “this outstanding breakthrough was achieved through deliberate and concerted efforts at alignment with the three (3) policy guidelines of the comptroller General of customs which are; Consultation, Innovation and Consolidation.
“The command in this regard, worked assiduously to create an all-inclusive methodology in the modus Operandi with stakeholders.
“The command subsequently leveraged on that to galvanize and earn the trust of our esteemed stakeholders in adhering very strictly to the extant guidelines in terms of trade.
“Additionally, the command developed a template for monitoring compliance by the stakeholders as well as with the commitment levels of our officers/men to ensure that all verified operational gaps are blocked. this procedure was also applied to our excise factories and parcel post functions. the command, through intelligence sharing and collaboration was able to identify excise factories that use hitherto not brought under excise control.
the command ensured a round the clock (24hrs) surveillance on activities of such factories, in addition to the existing ones, to ensure that appropriate excise duties were collected.
The command clearly understands the risk in not paying attention to parcel posts; hence the rejigged effort.
“Generally speaking, the period under review had its fair share of challenges occasioned by the global economic recession. However, the resilience and deep commitment of our officers/men enabled us to ensure that identified areas of Revenue leakages were blocked with a view to collecting all collectible Revenue.
“The command is not oblivious of its’ obligations and role in realizing the Revenue target set for the Nigeria Customs service, in view of the fact that Service has a pivotal role in the overall revenue projection for the nation.
You will recall that just recently, Mr. President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR announced a budget of 49.74 trillion as budget projection for 2025.
“In view of this, the command will surely take steps to re-position itself and create fresh operational strategies to ensure that we meet and even surpass the revenue target that will be given to the command in this new year. we have the competence and capacity to achieve that.
“It is also instructive to note that during the year under reference, several activities aimed at strengthening the existing relationship between the service and other agencies, including traditional institutions was given a priority attention.
We had the exceptional support of the various security/regulatory agencies where were operated. Also, intelligence sharing was a critical factor that necessitated our giant strides.
“The highlight of the activities was the visit of the National chairperson of the Customs officers Wives Association Mrs. Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi with her National Excos to the command. the visit afforded the national chairperson the opportunity to inspect and commission all completed COWA projects in the command, especially the ultra-modern clinic that is serving the health needs of not just our officers but communities proximate to the command.
“On this note, I would like to pay glowing tribute to our indefatigable comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi mfr Fnipr psc(+) Dss and members of his, Management for their unflinching support and guidance which provided us with the wherewithal to deliver on our mandate.
May I assure the CGC that the command will remain a strong link in the Value chain in assisting him to realise the huge expectations of Nigerians and Mr. President.
“May I assure the CGC and his management that the command will remain a strong link in the value chain of his regime in assisting him to realize the huge expectations of our president and Nigerians.
“Let me at this juncture also appreciate the support of the various operators, particular the compliant traders, while using this medium to advise any operator contemplating non-compliance with the extant guidelines on trade to have a rethink or be ready to force the full wrath of the law.
