Customs

PTML Customs advises importers to embrace transparency in goods declaration for enhanced trade facilitation

Comptroller Saidu Abba Yusuf, CAC, PTML

—- as Comptroller Yusuf engages stakeholders on VIN valuation method.

The Eyewitness Reporter

Comptroller Saidu Abba Yusuf, Customs Area Controller of Ports Terminal Multi-services Limited has once again urged importers of vehicles and their agents to imbibe transparency while making declarations for their imported vehicles.

Comptroller Yusuf, who said this at a stakeholders sensitization meeting held on Wednesday, August 29, 2023, on Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) valuation dispelled the rumour that the VIN method has been canceled.

He reiterated an earlier position on the matter issued by the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters that the VIN Valuation Process remains fully operational and effective.

He added that the trim numbers are critical in identifying distinct versions or tiers within a specific car model.

They delineate varying configurations, features, and levels of equipment associated with different models.

The CAC said the trim of vehicles is not the same for all kinds while urging declarants to have their transaction values.

He blamed some declarants for not being transparent because they go inputing what they think is the lowest base value which necessitates interventions like demand notice and alerts.

He advised them to apply invoice and transaction values as a way of promoting transparency and building integrity in the trade process of vehicle clearance.

Comptroller Yusuf said Section 24 of Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 provides for advance ruling for stakeholders to submit to the NCS before a transaction and the ruling will be binding on the service and the importer or agent.

This according to the Controller is a unique trade facilitation method provided for by the new law.

The CAC who described the meeting as being in line with the law also said customs stakeholders partnership is a provision of section 29 NCSA 2023.

According to him, meetings like this is meant to rub minds, identify challenges and jointly work out solutions on how best to resolve the challenges.

He added that the meeting is also in tandem with WCO and WTO trade facilitation thrusts which encourage consultations.

He reminded the stakeholders that the use of code 846 for clearing of non-standard VIN has been further modified to reduce human contact through what he called e-846. This saves time and makes trade easier.

“I must commend the system because the reduction of human contact is very effective and beneficial to all as it saves time.

” I personally monitor electronically from my office and can confirm that my officers are implementing it diligently.

“Wherever you are experiencing a delay in the process under my command, please draw my attention to it.

“My doors are open and will be more open to all of you. The help desk headed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer is active and responding to all inquiries online and in real-time” Comptroller Yusuf said.

Customs

Tinubu celebrates Adeniyi on his 59th birthday

–lists his achievements

Funso OLOJO

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined millions of well wishers across the globe to celebrate Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi as he turns 59 years on Sunday, January 19th, 2025.

In his birthday message made available through his Special Adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu lauded the innovative and inspiring leadership of Adeniyi which he noted has impacted greatly on the image and performance of the service.

While listing the achievements of the customs in terms of revenue generation, trade facilitation, automation and digitization of the service, anti- smuggling activities as well as bolstered staff morale under the dexterious guidance of Adeniyi, President Tinubu wished him divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength as he serves the nation.

“Under his guidance, the agency has witnessed significant progress through the steady digitalisation and automation of its operations, a renewed commitment to professionalism, and an uplift in officers’ morale, enhancing high performance.

“His leadership has enabled the NCS to surpass revenue targets substantially and bolstered trade facilitation, yielding widespread positive effects on the national economy.

“President Tinubu applauds the innovative anti-smuggling strategies initiated by the Customs Chief.

“These strategies encompass equipping the youth with new skills for alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering engagements with traditional institutions, and nurturing a culture of effective communication and mutual respect.

“The President recognises the Comptroller-General’s other notable achievements, including the remarkable seizures of arms and ammunition and the revitalisation of the Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference, which aims to assess and enhance the agency’s operations.

“President Tinubu affirms that Adeniyi’s extensive experience of over 30 years in service and adaptability to change has greatly enriched the Customs Service.

“The President offers prayers for divine wisdom, robust health, and continued strength for Comptroller-General Adeniyi as he serves the nation.

Customs

Onyeka, Tin Can CAC, set to pursue revenue generation aggressively

— vows to surpass 1 trillion naira revenue record

Funso OLOJO

The Area Controller of the Tin Can island command of the Nigeria customs service, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has set an ambitious goal of meeting and surpassing the one trillion naira revenue mark achieved last year by his predecessor, ACG Dera Nnadi.

It would be recalled that the command was given a revenue target of N1.4 trillion in 2024 while it realized a little about N1.226 trillion ,an unprecedented record that was never achieved in the history of the command.

Meanwhile, Comptroller Onyeka, has vowed to sustain the revenue momentum as he would aggressively pursue revenue collection.

Speaking while playing host to the Executive council of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN) which paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Friday, January 17th, 2025, the Customs chief disclosed his strategy to carry out his assignment.

According to him, he would facilitate legitimate trade, ensure 100 percent examination of all imports while he would energise his men and officers to key into his vision.

“I’ll facilitate trade, but it has to be legitimate trade. That’s what I feel I should do in the strict sense.

“You know, I’m coming from the aspect of revenue. So, it is my prayer and my hope to meet my target and surpass it.

“But principally, what I am going to fight is the ability to do this job without examination.

“I have appealed to my officers, whatever it is they have to do, let them see the containers, once we’ve examined them, everything should be on cruise control because if you examine, you’ll now know if it’s supposed to go out or not.

“I’ve involved Customs Intelligence Unit, CIU, I’ve involved Valuation Unit, I’ve spoken to all relevant Units and it’s my prayer, by the grace of God, that all of us will be on the same page to make sure that the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is brought to fruition” he noted.

He was full of gratitude to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , for the confidence reposed in him and vowed never to disappoint him.

“I also appreciate the fact that our indefatigable Comptroller General Of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to whom I’m very grateful.

“He needs to be made to know that he didn’t make any mistake for him to have brought me here.

“I am very grateful to him and his management team, and I need to make him proud” he enthused.

Comptroller Onyeka also vowed to build on the foundation that has been laid by his predecessor, Assistant Comptroller General Dera Nnadi.

“In anti-smuggling, he did well. In revenue generation, he did superbly well, same goes for infrastructure development.

“His Public Relations was top-notch, which I’m going to leverage.

“He was fortunate to have what I consider a very fantastic rapport with the media because that’s his background. I intend to leverage that. I intend to do better in that aspect” he added.

Earlier, in his address, the President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere expressed the willingness of the association to partner with the CAC and the Command to achieve the target ahead of the command.

He reiterated the firm resolution of the association to accord Comptroller Onyeka the same support accorded to his predecessor.

Customs

Pressure mounts on Customs as National Assembly reviews N6.5 trillion 2025 revenue target to N12 trillion.

—– as the service closes 2024 with N6.105 trillion revenue collection

Funso OLOJO

The National Assembly seems to be stretching the capacity of the Nigeria customs service for revenue generation to the limit as it has given the service an unprecedented task of generating a whooping sum of N12 trillion in 2025 into the government coffers.

This amount doubles the N6.5 trillion earlier projected revenue target for the service in 2025.

Apparently cashing in on the blistering revenue- generating performance of the service which surpassed the N5.079 trillion target of 2024 by 20.2 percent, the laws makers made the adjustment to the initial set target for 2025.

The National Assembly’s joint committee on Finance led by its chairmen, Senator Sani Musa and Hon. James Faleke, believed that the projection of N6.5 trillion was conservative and encouraged the NCS to aim higher.

Their decision followed the opinions of members of the joint committee who argued that the customs, based on its past geometric rise in revenue collection over the years, has the capacity to generate more that the projected target for 2025.

“Based on the aggregate opinions expressed by members of this committee, the Comptroller-General of Customs should aim at generating N12 trillion revenue for Nigeria in 2025, almost doubling the N6.5 trillion proposed by Customs itself,” Senator Musa said.

The adjustments were made during budget and revenue projection defence sessions on Tuesday, where Chief Executives from various federal agencies presented their 2024 budgets and 2025 revenue forecasts.

Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of the Customs, Adewale Adeniyi on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 in Abuja, made a public presentation of the performance of the service in 2024.

At the public presentation, Adeniyi gave account of the impressive performance of the service in revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti – smuggling efforts and other capacity – enhancing programmes of the agency in 2024.

According to him, the service collected₦6,105,315,543,489.50 in 2024

which surpassed the revenue target of ₦5,079,069,866,085.50 by ₦1,026,245,677,404.00, representing a 20.2% increase above the target.

Similarly, the service processed imports with a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value of ₦60.29 trillion in 2024, representing a remarkable 117.4% increase from ₦27.74 trillion in 2023.

” This was achieved through 1,262,988 import transactions, handling a total mass of 15.35 billion kilograms.

“The higher value recorded despite an 8.2% decrease in transaction volume from the previous year’s 1,376,514 transactions indicates a shift towards higher-value goods in our import trade portfolio.”

Equally, the service recorded an impressive trade performance with the total CIF value rising significantly to ₦136.65 trillion in 2024 from ₦42.77 trillion in 2023, marking a 219.5% increase.

“While the number of export transactions remained relatively stable at 38,199 compared to 38,294 in 2023, we witnessed a substantial increase in export volume, processing 12.35 billion kilograms in 2024 compared to 3.70 billion kilograms in 2023.

“This 234% increase in export mass, coupled with the higher value, indicates a robust growth in our export trade and suggests increasing competitiveness of Nigerian products in the international market.

“The total trade value handled by the Service in 2024 amounted to ₦196.94 trillion, compared to ₦70.50 trillion in 2023, representing a 179.3% increase.

” This substantial growth in trade value, achieved with fewer but more valuable transactions, is evident of the increasing sophistication of Nigeria’s international trade and the effectiveness of our trade facilitation measures” the CGC declared.