The Tin Can Island Port Command of the the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has recorded a 110.8 per cent growth on non oil export in the first half of the year, compared to the same period of last year. The Command’s non oil export rose from 138,246.5 metric tonnes, MT in the first half of last year to 291,436.43 MT the same period this year. Customs Area Controller, CAC of the Command , Adekunle Oloyede said in terms of volume, MT and value (Free On Board, FOB), the export trade recorded an exponential growth within the period under review. According to him, “Comparatively, between January to June 2023, the tonnage of the goods exported through Tin Can Island Port Complex, TICPC increased from 138,246.5, MT to 291,436.43, MT; representing an increase of 110.8% over the previous year under review.
Similarly, the Customs boss noted that there was an increase in the FOB value of the year exports, noting that the FOB increased from N110.447,250,811 in the first half of 2022 to N182,333,764,943 in the first half of 2023, representing an increase of 65 per cent. He said that increase of commodities exported from the command essentially includes agricultural and other allied products namely; Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nut, Sesame Seeds, Rubber, Empty bottles and copper ingots. He said that within the period under review, the Command participated in several symposiums to incentivise non-oil export, as well as participated in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN RT200fx where a lot of benefits to export trade were highlighted. Highlighting revenue collected within the period under review, the CAC added that “The Command recorded a total collection of N260.2 billion in the first half of the year under review.
“The first half collection in 2023 runs at a variation with the first half of 2022 with a total collection of N274.3 billion on a difference of N14 billion. For the monthly breakdown of the revenue collection within the period, the Customs boss explained that “The sum of N42.5 billion was collected in the month of January, N41.5 billion in the month of February and N43 billion in the month of March. “In the months of April, May and June, the revenue recorded are N36.5 billion, N46.4 billion and N50.4 respectively. He added that “It is imperative and worthy of note to mention the critical roles played by the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation Unit, Customs Police Unit and Post Clearance Audit for their sustained interventions which translated to the blockage of revenue leakages by enhanced compliance towards the attainment of the revenue drive.
On the Command’s enforcement crusade, Comptroller Oloyede stated that, “Tin Can Island Command Anti-smuggling drive yielded remarkable successes in the first half of 2023. Being the lead agency at the Port, the Enforcement Unit coordinated several anti-smuggling activities in synergy with other critical stakeholders in the trade value chain. The synergy led to the arrest of a total of 1442 Packets of Colorado Indica with a combined weight of 519.45kg extracted during 100 per cent joint physical examination of eight containers. The total street value according to NDLEA sources is N721,000,000.00. The means of conveyance in these cases, with the substance and two suspects were handed over to NDLEA in strict compliance with the Service Headquarters’ directive.
Oloyede stated that command has zero tolerance for the importation of unwholesome goods such as drugs, arms and ammunition adding that the mandate from the Service as well as the protection of the Nigeria Society is the driving force. “We have continually put in proactive measures aimed at keeping our frontiers free from illicit and illegitimate trade,”he noted.
Meanwhile, the Area Controller also heartily congratulated the Service for a smooth transition which occurred recently and sincerely appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for all the supports the Command have been enjoying from the Headquarters.
