PTML Customs raked in N152bn in six months – Official

The Nigeria Customs Service, Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited Command, said it generated N152bn between January and June 2024.

The command said that the figure represented a 49 per cent increase when compared to N102bn collected during the same period in 2023.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Yakubu Muhammad, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The statement quoted the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Tenny Deniyan, as saying that the half-year 2024 collection was N50.6bn higher than what was generated during the same period in 2023.

“I strongly believe we would do more with revenue collection and trade facilitation in the second half of 2024 as we continually improve on our level of service delivery and diligent implementation of all government directives,” the CAC said.

Daniyan charged officers to sustain diligent cargo examination.

Speaking on recent arms importation, Daniyan described national security as the bedrock of a thriving economy as no serious economic growth can be witnessed where there is insecurity

“Arms and ammunition in the hands of non-state actors put the country in danger, and illicit drugs have been globally noted as a fueling factor for many unlawful behaviours,” Daniyan said.

The PTML CAC warned that no one found to be involved in such illegal activities would be spared.

“I want to urge all customs officers in the command to always insist on cargo examination as we have always done

“You are hereby placed on red alert to keep doing the right thing as importers of arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs have shown more desperation in recent times,” the CAC said.

He urged officers to make the command a no-go area for perpetrators of such illegalities, ” and make seizures of such items including arresting persons suspected to be involved with such activities,”

“We are not going to sacrifice national security on the altar of trade facilitation. Both would run side by side. None would suffer for the other,” Daniyan said

The CAC reiterated that the two-hour cargo clearance time for compliant roll-on roll-off cargoes is still in place as the command is stepping up on trade facilitation in line with the time release study thrust of the service.

The PTML Customs boss advised terminal operators, importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, and all stakeholders in the port system to keep themselves abreast with government import and export prohibition directives.