Nigeria Custom generates N4.89bn from eastern states area command

The Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has generated N4.89 billion within eight months.

According to NAN’s report, the Area Comptroller, Suleiman Mohammed, made the disclosure to newsmen Monday at a stakeholders meeting in Enugu.

Mohammed said that the N4.89 billion was about 45.3 percent of the projected revenue target of the area command for the year, as the 2017 revenue target of customs for the three states is N10.84 billion

“The total amount realised as at August (from Jan. 1) stood at “Four Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, Three Hundred and Eleven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Five Naira, Seventy-Seven Kobo (N4, 895,311,805.77) representing 45.3 percent of the target for the year,’’ he said.

The comptroller attributed the shortfall in revenue of the agency to the lack of border areas in the three states under the command.

He said: “the three states covered by the command have no land borders and as such no frontier stations, rather it’s an excise oriented area with at least 20 excise factories under its control.

“Besides, only 14 excise factories are functional presently whole six are temporarily closed-down.”

Also speaking, Chief Raymond Okonkwo, the Chairman, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), urged stakeholders in freight industry to tackle facilities-related problems at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Okonkwo said: “there is a need for stakeholders who have interest in the development of the airport structure to come together to ensure that things are the way they should.

“The runway at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport is not of the standard to attract international flights.

“When facilities at any airport run short of international regulations, you know that there is a problem with no airline will put his aircraft at risk.’’

Speaking, the representative of Triax Group of Companies, Chief Emeka Okeke, called on South-East governors to join hands with the Enugu State governor to see that the airport becomes truly international in its operation.

“We should not leave this thing for one state alone. I don’t know why the governments of the South-East states should not come to support this international airport project.

“Let us start with one international airport before talking of cargo airport and the rest of them.

“Enugu is the main eastern-base and this problem should be addressed squarely,’’ Okeke said.