Customs: Kwara Command Generates N2.7bn In 2020 Third Quarter
…Seizes 11 Vehicles, 1,023 Bags of Foreign Rice
Oyewale Oyelola
The Kwara Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service has generated N2.714,953,949.32k in third quarter (July to September)/of 2020 amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
The Area Comptroller, Compt. HB Ahmed disclosed this the quarterly report made available to newsmen through Kwara Command Spokesman, Chado Zakari on Wednesday in Ilorin.
The report indicated that the Customs command generates over N698million compare to third quarter of 2019.
The command as part of implementation of border closure order by President Buhari seized 11 vehicles, 1,023 Bags of Foreign parboiled Rice and other items during the period under review.
Full Report
3rd QUARTER REPORT OF NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE, KWARA AREA COMMAND FROM JULY-SEPTEMBER, 2020
BACKGROUND
Following the renewed enthusiasm and development of Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) for operational efficiency, the Command has witnessed a major paradigm shift in its statutory functions. This trajectory provided the needed impetus for the smooth implementation of the Presidential Directives on Ease of Doing Business.
Generally speaking, it is instructive to note that the command under the leadership of Compt. HB Ahmed fsi has gone beyond Revenue Collection/Generation, to creating an enabling environment for legitimate businesses to thrive in line with the Comptroller General’s mandate, with the resolve by the Command to achieve and equally reduce the cost of doing business. These and other factors have projected the command as a hub and one of the most business friendly Command with remarkable profile.
REVENUE
Within the period under review, the Command generated and collected a total of Two billion, seven hundred and fourteen million, nine hundred and fifty three thousand, nine hundred and forty nine naira, thirty two kobo (N2, 714,953,949.32) between July to September, 2020 which represents 33.77% of the 3rd qaurter. A comparative review of the preceding year 2019 indicated that the Command realized (698,791,041.50) Six hundred and Ninety-Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Forty-one Naira Fifty Kobo.
The latest report represents 62.9% of the annual target with a differential of Two billion, Sixteen million, One Hundred and Sixty two Thousand Nine Hundred and Seven Naira eighty two kobo (N2, 016,162,907.82) from the record of the previous year. The 2020 revenue target for the Command is put at Eight billion and thirty eight million naira (N 8,038,000,000.00) out of which the Command has so far generated (N5, 058,906,272.17) Five Billion Fifty Eight Million Nine Hundred and Six Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Two Naira Seventy Kobo from January to September, 2020 which represents 62.9%
Some of the factors which might have led to this short fall include; government fiscal policies such as high excise duty rates which leads to low patronage of excise products, ban on importation of foreign rice and vehicles through the land borders, general economic down turn occasioned by CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) which also led to lockdown of the entire excise factories in the command. The month of April alone, command could not generate/collect any excise duties due to lockdown.
It’s worthy to mention here that since the creation of the Command, July last year, under the watch of Compt. HB Ahmed fsi, the Command has so far generated Seven billion, four hundred and sixty three million, two hundred and twenty four thousand, three hundred and fourteen naira, sixty five kobo (N7,463,224,314.65) and remitted same to federation account. He declared and I quote “while I consider over Seven Billion Revenue Generated as a laudable feat, it doesn’t call for complacency on our part. It is only a reminder to do more in our National interest to support the country’s economic well being.
It is instructive to point out that the revenue feat was achieved as a result of Compt. Ahmed’s concerted and pragmatic efforts, sensitization and enlightenment of stakeholders, efficient utilization of available resources (human and material) as well as effective supervision and control. Yet the humble achiever will not arrogate praise and excellence to himself alone but eulogize his officers and men for their hard work and dedication to duty.
To let out part of the CAC’s success strategies, he adopted regular meetings with excise factories and other critical stakeholders to abreast himself with happenings within the factories. In his word” I am whole heartedly committed to achieving maximum collection of all revenue due to government through Customs duties in Command and prevent all form of leakages”
ENFORCEMENT:
On enforcing compliance of smuggling activities, the Command recorded a total of Twenty-one (21) Seizures comprising of Rice, Vegetable Oil and Used Vehicles. The breakdown is as follows-:
One Thousand and Twenty three (1,023) Bags of Foreign parboiled Rice with duty paid Value (DPV) of Eighteen million, and Eighty Eight thousand Naira (N18, 088,000.00)
Eleven (11) Used Vehicles with Duty paid Value (DPV) of Six million, Nine hundred and Seventy-Two thousand Five Hundred Naira (N6, 972,500.00)
General merchandise with Duty paid Value (DPV) of Eighty six thousand, four hundred Naira ( N 86,400.00)
The total DPV of all the seized items is Thirty Five million, Four hundred and Ninety Five thousand Naira (N 35,495,000.00)
SYNERGY WITH SISTER AGENCIES
In the area of building robust synergy between the Command and other Sister agencies, Comptroller HB Ahmed fsi within the period under review had the privilege of playing host to Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Economy and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) National Agency for Food and Drug Administrative Control (NAFDAC) and many others.
The collective resolve is to fight criminality, protect law abiding Nigerians and ensure seamless information sharing and operational synergies whenever or wherever the need arises.
The Area Controller commended the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) and his management team for their mandate of zero tolerance for illegalities; and reiterated that the stakeholders must operate within the limits of the extant laws which will continue to make the Command operations friendly to facilitate trade.