By Chinonye Anyatonwu
The Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of Nigeria Customs Service has Collected a total of (N165,021,614,645,00) as revenue to the Federal Government for the nine months of the year 2021 (January to September).
According to a release signed and made available by the Command’s public relations officer, Yakubu, Muhammad, shows an increase of N26, 986,656,533.00 billion above the N138, 034,958,112.00 that was collected within same period of last year which represents 20% percent increase of the Command’s revenue.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Compt . Festus Okun has always improved revenue collection strategies by blocking possible areas of leakages, collection of identified shortfalls through demand notices, promote trade facilitation and achieve seamless cargo clearance for compliant importers without compromising national security and interest.
It stated that the Command was able to put more measures in the area of capacity building for officers, strengthening of the dispute resolution committee and building a strong quality service delivery, thus engendering ease of doing business.
He noted that the issuance of demand
notices (DNs) from uncovered revenue
shortfalls within the period under review amounted N865, 449,258.00
In the months under review, a total number of 145 ships berthed at the PTML terminal carrying 26,613 containers and 171,491 imported vehicles between January and September 2021.
In the area of Export Trade,the Command have handled export goods with a total tonnage of Seventy- thousand (118,460,38) metric tons, with a total Free on Board (FOB) value of Eight hundred and thirty-two Billion, nine hundred and sixty-six million, five hundred and fifteen thousand, three hundred and sixty-eight naira, forty-nine kobo. (N832, 966,515,368.49) only.
Comptroller Okun commended the officers and men of the command for TT heir patriotism and commitment to national interest as he urged them to double their efforts to achieve a more resounding feat by the end of 2021.
He however advised the newly promoted officers in the command to justify the confidence reposed in them by being more selfless to the cause of Nigeria Customs Service and the nation at large.
He equally urged them to continually uphold the tenets of honesty and service as ex amplified by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Handed Ali and the Management team.
Compt. Okun, while describing PTML as a model port with many advantages for Importers and exporters, urged them to increase their level of compliance.
He reiterated that the four hour clearance time for compliant Roll on Roll off (RoRo) cargoes is very much subsisting.
Comptroller Okun added that PTML provides opportunity for vehicle importation with speedy clearance being a model RoRo port that should discourage car smuggling through land borders.
