The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi while revealing 2024 strategic plan, has declared that NCS will maintain a zero- tolerance stance towards indiscipline and non-compliance in the year 2024.
He disclosed this on Wednesday 10th, January 2024, during a press conference at the Headquarters, Abuja.
According to him, for the fiscal year 2024, the NCS has been allocated a new revenue target of NGN 5.079 trillion, in accordance with the government’s economic objectives.
He emphasized that the global and national trends, including the AfCFTA and WCO theme, will shape customs operations.
The CGC therefore urged stakeholders to actively play their parts in achieving the set goals for the year.
” For the fiscal year 2024, the NCS has been allocated a new revenue target of NGN 5.079 trillion, aligning with the government’s economic objectives. This target signifies the government’s confidence in the NCS’s capabilities and underscores the Service’s important role in contributing to the nation’s fiscal wellbeing”.
” It is imperative for all officers and stakeholders to adhere strictly to established procedures and regulations. Maximum cooperation is expected from every stakeholder in the customs operations. The success of our collective efforts depends on the discipline and commitment of each member. Let this be a year where every action is aligned with the principles of efficiency, transparency, and revenue optimization with the overall aim of contributing meaningfully to the economic prosperity of our nation”.
The Customs boss pointed that NCS is conscious of the topical trends and issues that will impact the Service operations in 2024 which include: alignment with government policy direction, African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), Customs Modernization, Border Management, Leveraging on NCS Act to Implement Modern Procedures, Stakeholder Engagement and Intensive Capacity Building Initiatives and Exchange Rate Effect.
He assured that in subsequent months, various organized ideas will be initiated to bring about progress in the service.
” Going forward, numerous strategic initiatives are poised to positively impact the Service’s performance in the coming months. These initiatives include the introduction of the Advanced Ruling system, aligning NCS operations with global best practices and meeting the recommendations of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA). Additionally, the inauguration of a Steering Committee on the Implementation of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) for Compliant Traders underscores our readiness totransition from Fastrack 2.0 to the AEO concept. Engagements with the international community, such as those with the World Customs Organization (WCO), JICA, and Japan Customs, focused on key areas is expected to lead to the implementation of the Customs Laboratory, adoption of geospatial technology, and the conduct of a Time Release Study”.
” Collaborative efforts with the Customs Administration of the Republic of Benin, the revitalization of zonal structures, and integration of Customs institutions into the administrative framework all contribute to NCS’s commitment to efficient service delivery and positive stakeholder relationships. The NCS also responded to changes in legislation, engagement with the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC), initiated Corporate Social Responsibility projects, integrated efforts with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), enhanced personnel welfare programs, and introduced the Work-Life Balance (WLB) initiative. In the upcoming week, theNCS is set to inaugurate an electronic auction (e-auction) platform, strategically designed to enhance transparency in the auction process. These collective actions signify NCS’s dedication to enhancing staff welfare and sustaining optimal performance”.
He further outlined the successes achieved by the service in 2023 while he noted that it was as a result of the NCS ability to withstand economic fluctuation.
” In the fiscal year 2023, the NCS achieved a significant milestone by recording a total revenue collection of NGN 3,206,603,417,315.47, marking a noteworthy 21.4% increase from the preceding year’s total revenue of NGN 2,641,616,673,501.83. This growth aligns with the NCS’s consistent upward trajectory, as evidenced by a 17.88% revenue increase in 2022. The consecutive expansion in revenue underscores the Service’s sustained efforts in optimizing revenue collection for the Federal Government and exemplifies our ability to adapt to dynamic economic conditions”.
” The NCS sustained its vigorous campaign against smuggling and illicit trade, culminating in 3,806 seizures with a Duty Paid Value totalling NGN 16, 049,023,262. These confiscations encompassed a diverse array of contraband, including Arms and Ammunition, Artifacts and Antiquities, illicit drugs, expired food produce, and endangered species of flora and fauna”.
” Remarkably, the NCS achieved 52 convictions, with 11 specifically linked to the illicit trade in Animal/Wildlife. Noteworthy is the international acknowledgment garnered for the Service’s efforts in combating this illicit trade in Animal/Wildlife. This steadfast commitment underscores the NCS’s dedication to protecting Nigerian society, maintaining a resolute stance against smugglers, and diligently dismantling their operations” he added.
