The Tincan Island Port Customs Command generated N179.2billion between January 2 and July 10, 2019, up from N172.5 billion realised in the corresponding period in 2018.
Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Mohammed Musa, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
He said the above figure represented 52.2 per cent of the annual target with a difference of N6.7 billion from what the command generated between January and July 10, 2018.
According to him, there is urgent need for balance of trade through export. He said the command, during the period under review embarked on full automation of export procedures as a panacea for seamless transactions.
To this effect, Musa said the Command achieved a total of 150,930.7 metric tons of export with Free On Board (FOB) value of N68.8billion.
He recalled that the command, during the preceding year of 2018, recorded 118,452.87 metric tons of export with FOB of N63,1 million in the period under review.
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The command boss said that the feat recorded in the area of export is clearly indicative of awareness by Stakeholders on the available opportunities inherent in export business, adding that the command would continue to sensitise and encourage exporters.
“The Command is leaving no stone unturned in the area of anti-smuggling in view of the devastating effect of smuggling to the nation and its implications on lives and security.
“Consequently, deliberate and concerted efforts are being made by the command to ensure that examination and releasing officers remain proactive and preemptive in the discharge of their statutory functions.
He said the command recorded seizures of 5 x 40ft and 4 x 20ft containers consisting various contraband during the period under review. The items comprise used tyres, used rims, bags of rice, cartons of Tramadol and other pharmaceuticals with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of 1.1billion.
He said that there was need for facilitation of legitimate trade, which was at the front burner of our discourse, adding that this necessitated the creation of various platforms for expeditious resolution of disputes and issues related thereto.
