Business
By Bon Peters
THE Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Onne Port in Rivers State has joined Customs formations all over the World to mark the 2024, International Customs Day.
Speaking at the event at the weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Baba Imam, stated that the theme for the year 2024, “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose” was chosen to highlight the importance of collaboration and cooperation between customs administrations, International organizations, private sector entities and other stakeholders.
He went further to posit that “by joining forces with both traditional and new partners, customs agencies can enhance their effectiveness in promoting trade facilitation, combating illicit trade and supporting sustainable development.”
On Area 11, Command, he further maintained that traditional partners, such as NPA, Security/border and law enforcement agencies, regulatory authorities, shipping lines, customs agents, terminal operators, road transport workers and the press have continued to be vital in ensuring customs operations run smoothly emphasizing that collaboration with these partners allows customs to share information, intelligence, and best practices, leading to coordinated efforts in addressing legitimate trade and other transnational threats such as smuggling.
Speaking further, he added that the Command would enhance its risk management capabilities, streamline processes and improve overall operational efficiency by leveraging the expertise of those traditional partners.
“However, in today’s interconnected world, the Command needs to engage with new partners to stay ahead of the curve and respond effectively to evolving challenges as they arise,” he said
On the effectiveness of synergy of the Command with both the traditional and new partners, the Customs Area Controller stated that in the area of revenue generation the command was given a target of N336 billion for the year 2023 and that as of December 31 2023 with the aid of stakeholders engagement, synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing, the Command was able to collect N313 billion which, according to him, accounted for 93% of the annual target.
He noted that the amount surpassed the 2022 collection by N71 billion and represented 30% increase over the 2022 generated revenue.
He added “As at today, Friday, 26 January 2024 the Command has collected ₦31,496,276,576.00 which is above the 2023 January collection of ₦20,130,775,598.08, with five days left to the end of this month.
In export, he said that a total of 1,929,121.22 Metric tonnes of goods with a free on board (FOB) value of $10,188,252,603.24, which is equivalent to ₦9,456,575,171,918.20 was processed through the Command in 2023, and a total of ₦2,038,069,290.51 was recorded for Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS).”
Insisting that these are just few of the results achieved with purposeful engagement of our stakeholders and partners.
Imam, who applauded the leadership qualities of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, vowed to leverage on his policy-driven leadership of commitment to ensuring consistency on stakeholders engagements and sustainability of such, which he said, had ensured a friendly environment at Onne customs Area 11 Command.
Meanwhile a presentation of the essence of the International Customs Day was done by the Command’s Public Relations officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Lomba Benjamin.
Giving his goodwill message, the Port Manager, Nigerian Ports Authority, Onne Ports Complex; O. C. Zhattua, said that the mandate of Nigerian Ports Authority was collaboration to enable the environment for business to thrive.
He went further to emphasize that “today that the Nigeria Customs Service is celebrating has given most people a situation where they are trying to assess the quality of Nigeria Customs Service.”
He said, “the Nigeria Customs Service of today, is an improved one” even as he described the tree customs Area Comptrollers he has met during his three years stay at Onne Port, as “improved and scientific ‘
He said his office is open for more collaboration insisting that without collaboration and synergy, nothing would be achieved.
“My office is open for not only Nigeria Customs Service but any other stakeholder who will add value to what we are doing.”
He praised Comptroller Imam for achieving much in his short period of time at Onne.
A.
-JANUARY 29, 2024 @ 13:45 GMT|
Tags: Bon Peters International Customs Day Lomba Benjamin.
