Custom Boss Decries Insecurity Affecting Services’ Revenue Collection
AREWA AGENDA – The Boss of the Nigeria Customs Services, Comptroller-general Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) has said heightened insecurity in Nigeria’s border communities and government approved routs is significantly affecting the level of revenue for government.
Leadership Newspaper reports that the CG said the fragility of the entire Northeast – from Yobe to Mubi that resulted in the dismantling of all existing Customs posts for collecting revenue and facilitating trade through Katsina where some of the outposts are being burnt to Idiroko in Ogun State, the amount of revenue generation by Customs has dropped significantly.
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He blamed the inability of the service to meet its target on the fragility of the borders. The NCS generated N2.5 trillion out of the N3.1 trillion revenue target set for it in 2022.
Of course, the revenues we are supposed to collect from those government approved routs are no longer coming. First, it affects the work we do. And then, most importantly, it reduces the amount of revenue we ought to have collect,” Col. Ali said.
He made the disclosure yesterday at a press briefing to mark the end of the three-day global conference entitled “Enabling Customs in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations” that was organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO), in cooperation with the Nigerian Customs Service in Abuja.
He stated that the fragility of the borders is also affecting its ability to raise more revenue for government, saying anytime that happens, Nigeria loses a trend of trade facilitation. “Therefore, within that period, whatever we are supposed to collect probably will not come, and the smugglers will have a field day.”
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