1 week ago
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It was celebration galore recently at the Port and Terminal Multipurpose Services Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) when the Command celebrated and decorated the newly promoted officers of the Command.
Few days later, the Command hosted another celebration to mark the World Customs Day.
In fact, the both occasions were full of activities as they brought together stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy, families and friends of officers to celebrate with the command.
Notable was the announcement of the huge revenue of N31billion generated into the Federal Government coffers between January 1 and January 24, 2025; which was announced by the Customs Area Controller of the Command (CAC), Comptroller Tenny Mankini Daniyan.
The Customs boss disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists, shortly after decorating 54 newly promoted officers of his command.
According to Daniyan, the decoration ceremony was aimed at recognising their hard work and excellence and was held on the heels of a similar mandate issued in Abuja by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which sought to encourage the promoted officers and inspire others to strive for efficiency, excellence and greatness.
He emphasised that the promotions were a testament to the command’s commitment to rewarding hard work and dedication, while expressing his pride and admiration for the newly promoted officers, urging them to uphold the integrity and excellence that the command was known for.
The Controller took the opportunity to brief journalists on the Command’s performance since the beginning the Month January saying that the Command collected over N31 billion in revenue so for as at January 24, 2025.
This achievement, he noted, was a promising start to the year and a reflection of the command’s efforts to expand trade and improve efficiency.
“With the command’s sights set on a brighter future, we are confident in the Command’s ability to continue delivering excellent results. As the pilot command for B’Odogwu, PTML is poised to lead the way in innovation and excellence.
“The silver lining behind the clouds is now showing and has achieved so much. Today we have over N31 billion in total revenue collected so far which is encouraging considering that this is the beginning of the year, but I can assure you as the days go by, month to month, we are going to keep improving. So the forecast is very clear and encouraging, because trade is going to be expanded in the command.”
Among the decorated officers are Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) S.K. Aremu, CSC O.O. Vaughan, Superintendent of Customs (SC) O.D. Edodi; Superintendent Emhawa; Deputy Superentendent K.E. Ekera. Deputy Superintendent G.O Osemehon, Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1 (ASC1) O.M. Edaka, Superintendent of Customs 1 (SC1) I.O.Amosun; ASC1 U.A.Abdullahi, ASC1 S.O. Lateef, ASC1 V. A. Paul, ASC1 M.J. Ahmed, ASC 1 A.A.Abubakar, ASC1 M.Salau; ASC1 J.F Abdullahi, ASC1 S.C. Abdullahi, ASC1 S. Abubakar, ASC1 J.O. Bature, ASC1 I.A.Hamzat, ASC2 N.Okoro, ASC2 C.O. Eya, ASC2 B.U.Hudu, ASC2 I.A. Ezenagu, ASC2 S.Useni, ASC2 M.Mohammed, ASC2 A.W. Adefeye, Inspector of Customs (IC) J.S Goddiya, IC B.Sanni, IC A.R. Dongo; IC T.O. Ayegbeni, AIC Haruna Vegas, CA1 P.A.Adeyemo and CA1 C.A. Abduilkadir.
Giving a voter of thanks on behalf of the newly promoted and decorated officers, O.O. Vaughan, a Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), said it was a remarkable day in the annals of history.
He sincerely thanked the Comptroller General of Customs for giving the approval for them to be decorated with their new ranks.
He also appreciated the CAC saying that his fatherly role brought them thus far.
He said that they shall not disappoint the service, saying that to whom much is given, much is expected.
The decoration exercise was followed few days later with another celebration. This time, it was the World Customs Day.
The CAC used the opportunity to announce with assurance that his command targeted 1-hour clearance of cargo to the teaming stakeholders, importers and exporters as well as other sister Government Agencies.
He equally announced that has received approval for pharmaceuticals imports.
In fact, the Command expressed strong determination to achieve the one hour clearance of Roll on Roll off (RoRo) cargo to beat its existing two hours record.
Abdullahi Tsafe Abubakar, new Customs Public Relations Officer (CPRO), PTML Command disclosed in a statement made available to journalists.
Abubakar, a Superintendent of Customs (SC) said the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Tenny Mankini Daniyan stated this when the Command celebrated the International Customs day in Lagos.
The Controller said that all that was needed is for importers and their agents to be compliant.
According to him, with compliance in the form of sincere declaration, prompt payment of duty and readiness for exit, the command is capable of clearing automobile cargoes within one hour.
He also disclosed that the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved the PTML Terminal for the importation of pharmaceuticals.
Comptroller Daniyan said this was made possible due to the adequate security and transparent mode of operation at the command.
He commended the Grimaldi management for their commitment to efficiency and applauded their commencement of shipping services from Lagos to Shanghai in China.
According to him, this is a welcome development that should be sustained through legitimate shipping and increased trade activities.
The CAC said the theme of this year’s WCD, “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security and Prosperity,” was instructive in many ways as it speaks directly to the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service with particular reference to the PTML Command.
Comptroller Daniyan assured that 2025 would feature improvements on previous achievements by the command while urging all stakeholders to keep supporting the NCS in its drive for modernization.
He said: “As you are all aware, this command is playing a piloting role in the reorganisation of customs modernisation project which has started recording great successes.
“Our commitment to efficiency, security and prosperity is without compromise. In attaining and sustaining this, I am pleased to inform you that under our able and dynamic Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we have prioritised stakeholder relationship to build on past successes.
“I want to use this medium to thank all stakeholders for their support and understanding at all times in our efforts to contribute to the growth of our great country.
“Like I have always said, we shall continually ensure maximum collection of government revenue without compromising national security while supporting the facilitation of legitimate trade.
“Today’s celebration, which is a global event, should serve as a reminder to our oaths of patriotism to our nation as embedded in our national anthem and pledge.
“I want to specifically remind us of the need to jointly work for the success of the B’Odogwu programme which is being piloted here while thanking you for your support in overcoming the teething challenges.
“For 2025, we shall improve on the celebrated two hours clearance time and ensure port users get the best of customs experience anytime they come to PTML.
“Our dispute resolution desks, and all trade facilitation structures are active. Don’t forget that as CAC, I run an open-door policy. Feel free at all times to reach out to me on any matter requiring my input.”
Last weekend, the Command had another elaborate, instructive and educative session with critical stakeholders.
The meeting was aimed at educating all and sundry on the new 4 percent Free On Board (FOB) charges introduced by the Federal Government, which will take effect from February 10, 2025.
It was the need to bring clarity to the intention of the Ports Terminal Multi-Services Limited Command of the Nigeria Customs Service towards the implementation of the 4% charge on the Free on Board services brought about the Command’s engagement with stakeholders last Friday.
It was an opportunity for the Command heads to rub minds with all stakeholders as the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Daniyan made good efforts to explain all modalities that have been put in place to start the collection of the FOB charges at the Command Monday, February 10, 2025.
The payment of the FOB charges, which is importers-driven is seen by Customs authorities as well a welcome development, but there are certain ill feelings by some stakeholders who argued that the Customs authorities should have given them a few Month’s notice, before implementation.
At the end of the parley which lasted over one and half hours, Comptroller Daniyan fielded questions from journalists.
He noted that, “This sensitisation meeting is going to help the process a great deal because we always need to engage stakeholders; they help in bringing in the revenue that the Customs generate. They are the ones who interface with the importers, the harbingers of the news to importers who will educate them about our intentions. It is also our intention to make them realise that this is real as it was an act of parliament which we intend to implement soon.”
His words: “Considering that it is a uniform thing which will be implemented simultaneously at all Commands, there was this need for us to sensitise the stakeholders here. Government has so many responsibilities and the need for the Customs to have better funding for more efficient management of the Service necessitated this increase. As we speak, there are so many projects that Customs intends to execute and so these funds are really needed.”
The CAC commended the compliance level of the stakeholders at the Command, noting that it is over 70 percent; he also expressed the pleasure that none of the stakeholders is against the increase in free on board charges, though he noted that their grouse is with the
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