To highlight the stewardship of himself and his team in the last few months, the Customs Area Controller of Tincan Island Port Area Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, held a press briefing on Friday, March 15, 2024, at the conference room of the command. He stated that the primary objective of the briefing was to update the public on the efforts the command had made to increase their revenue while also facilitating legitimate trade.
He reminded us that 2024 is being referred to as ‘The Year of the Stakeholders,’ aligning with the theme for International Customs Day: ‘Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose.’ This is also in line with the fundamental pillars of the Comptroller General of Customs’s vision of Collaboration, Consolidation, and Innovation.
Highlighting their revenue drive between January 2024 and the present date, Comptroller Nnadi stated that the command had recorded a total collection of N240,302,743,023.47.
Breakdown of the Revenue:
- In January 2024, the command collected a total of N88,430,126,122.72, which is 7.89% higher than the value collected in January 2023, which was N42,536,336,038.11.
- In February 2024, the command generated N100,399,354,887.71, which is 41.82% higher than the value collected in February 2023, which was N41,518,738,649.09.
- In March 2023, the command recorded the sum of forty-two billion, eight hundred and three million, one hundred and fourteen thousand, five hundred and forty-four Naira, eleven Kobo (N42,473,262,013.00) collected from 1st to 13th March 2024.
Speaking about their Enforcement and Anti-Smuggling Activities, Comptroller Nnadi said that as the lead agency at the port, the Enforcement unit has coordinated several 100% physical examinations under his supervision in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure that the command is free of any form of noncompliance to international trade. Below is the breakdown of items seized: - 12 pieces of rifles and 6 pistols.
- Other items seized are:
(a) Two (2) packets of 50pcs of 9mm live ammunition, totaling 100 rounds.
(b) Twenty-three packets weighing 23kg of substance confirmed to be heroin.
i. Marked white 999– Ten (10) packets of 1kg each = 10kg
ii. Marked white 888– Three (3) packets of 1kg each = 3kg
iii. Marked blue Saphire— Eight (8) packets of 1kg each = 8kg
iv. Marked 777 Bentley— Two (2) packets of 1kg each = 2kg
Other items found in the course of physical examination are: - Flat screen television sets.
- HP printer.
- Six (6) cartons containing scanner machines.
- Five (5) empty metal jerry cans.
- Two (2) washing machines.
- Three (3) sets of bed frames.
- One (1) set of living room furniture.
- Three (3) used microwave ovens.
- One (1) used vacuum cleaner.
- Table tennis.
- One (1) sport bicycle.
- Two wooden crates of light fittings.
- One (1) wooden crate containing a motorized toy car.
- DSTV dish.
- One (1) used Samsung refrigerator.
- Four (4) sets of used sound systems.
- One (1) used barbecue grill.
- Two (2) used toasters.
- Three (3) used blenders.
- Sixteen (16) bags containing used clothes and personal effects.
Before he brought the press briefing to an end, Comptroller Nnadi said that he needed to specially appreciate the continuous support that the Area Command has continued to receive from the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), and his management team. Nnadi said every support from the Service headquarters is significant in enhancing the Command’s operational activities and contributes largely to its achievements.
He seized the opportunity to appreciate and commend the efforts of all officers and men of the Area Command for their dedication. He also appreciated the CIU operatives, Customs Police, Enforcement Unit, amongst other units, other sister security agencies, and the gentlemen of the press.