nets N5.209bn in July as highest revenue ever
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said at the weekend that it had generated over N20.111 billion as revenue from its operations between January and July 2015.
Apart from the revenue collection for the last six months, the Lagos airport command also said it collected over N5.209 billion in the month of July, being the highest collected by the airport unit since its formation.
Thelma Williams, public relations officer of the Command, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos.
According to Williams, First Bank Nigeria plc has been designated as the bank for the collection of import duty, which is processed using the Passenger Electronic Baggage Entry System (PEBES).
The duty payable, she said, is calculated based on the tendered invoice value of some items.
She said over N179,326,833.00 million had been collected by the command at the international wing of the Lagos airport between January and July 2015, as revenue accruals on informal trade alone.
The huge amount, she noted, would have been lost save for the devotion and eagle eyes of Customs officers deployed at the arrival halls of the airport.
The huge revenue capture was achieved as evidence of the diligence and hard work of officers and men of the command in the period under review, Williams said.
She attributed the huge revenue as part of ongoing reforms as well as the diligence of officers of the MMIA command in the discharge of their responsibilities as it affects trade facilitation duty collection and the enforcement of prohibition.
The stride by the airport customs command, Williams said, will be sustained with the cooperation of stakeholders in the aviation and allied sector, just as the she urged industry players to partner the NCS to achieve its goal of trade facilitation and revenue generation for the nation.
She clarified that where invoices were not available for this collection passengers were referred to the valuation unit where imports were assessed using valid data in the system.
“Recent events at the arrival and departure halls of the MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, has made it necessary to clarify issues related to the operational modalities of officers posted to the arrival and departure halls, with particular focus on methods of processing payment for merchandise in baggage, defined as merchandise accompanying inward bound passengers for which import duty is supposed to be paid.
“Also passengers are statutorily required to make declaration of all cash in excess of $10,000, both at points of entry and exit.
“The Customs service implores travellers to be patient and honest during routine checks and questioning. Where travellers have complaints about the conduct of officers on duty, help desk and the officer of the public relations officer are available to help resolve all disputes that may arise thereof,” she said.
For further clarification as to the items that are allowable, as personal baggage by travellers and the quantity that may be brought in without incurring taxes, the Command referred members of the public to the NCS website at Nigeria Customs Administration.
