The Nigeria Customs Service Enugu /Anambra /Ebonyi Command has disclosed a turnover of N50,847,625,597.08 (Fifty billion, Eight hundred and forty-seven million, Six hundred and twenty-five thousand, five hundred and ninety-seven thousand and eight kobo only) in 2024.
Making this disclosure in a statement on Friday, Comptroller Comfort Ukpanah, Customs Area Controller Enugu /Anambra / Ebonyi Command said the figure represents over 50% increase in Revenue collection when compared to that of the preceding year 2023.
According to her, the Command made a collection of N27,954,707,493.00 (Twenty-seven billion, nine hundred and fifty-four million, seven hundred and seven thousand, four hundred and ninety-three naira only in 2023; a feat ever achieved, since the inception of the command.
Comptroller Ukpanah observed that the outstanding breakthrough was achieved through deliberate and concerted efforts in consonance with the three policy guidelines of the comptroller General of Customs, which is: “Consultation, Innovation and Consolidation.”
It was gathered that the command worked assiduously to create an all-inclusive methodology in its modus operandi with various stakeholders.
Consequently, she reiterated, the Command leveraged on that to galvanize and earn the trust of our esteemed stakeholders in adhering very strictly to the extant guidelines in terms of trade.
Part of the statement read: “Additionally, the Command developed a template for monitoring compliance by the stakeholders as well as with the commitment levels of our officers/men to ensure that all verified operational gaps are blocked.
“This procedure was also applied to our excise factories and parcel post functions. The Command, through intelligence sharing and collaboration, was able to identify excise factories that use hitherto not brought under excise control.”
It was further learnt that the Command ensured a round-the-clock (24hrs) surveillance of activities of such factories, in addition to the existing ones, to ensure that appropriate excise duties were collected.
On the challenges faced in the outgone year, Comptroller Ukpanah explained that the global economic recession was a huge factor, adding that the resilience and deep commitment of officers/men enabled the Command to ensure that identified areas of Revenue leakages were blocked to collect all collectible Revenue.
In realisation of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s announced 2025 budget of N49.74 trillion projection, the Command under the leadership of Compt. Ukpanah,
the command has promised to step up to re-position and create fresh operational strategies to ensure that they meet, if not surpass the revenue target given to the command in 2025.
Assuring that with competent and capable personnel, they will strengthen existing relationships between the service and other agencies, including traditional institutions.
The highlight of the activities was the visit of the National Chairperson of the Customs Officers Wives Association Mrs. Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi with her National Excos to the command.
During the visit, the national chairperson inspected and commissioned all completed COWA projects in the command, especially the ultra-modern clinic that is serving the health needs of not just our officers but communities within their Commands.
Comptroller Comfort Ukpanah commended the indefatigable Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and members of his management for their unflinching support and guidance which provided them with the wherewithal to deliver on our mandate.
She also salutes the courage of officers and men of the command for their unrelenting efforts to achieve a lot in 2024.
About The Author
