The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has facilitated export trade worth over N1.03 from the Tin-Can Island Port (TCIP), Nigeria’s second largest seaport by volume, in the first half of the year – January to June.
Dera Nnadi, Customs Area Controller of Tin-Can Island Command, disclosed this to journalists during the Command’s half-year media briefing held at the Maritime Reporter’s Association of Nigeria (MARAN) secretariat in Lagos on Friday.
“The total Free on Board (FOB) value of NXP for commercial goods exported through Tin-Can Island Ports in the first half of 2024 is worth over N1.03 trillion which represents an increase compared to the export value of N182.33 billion recorded in the first half of 2023.
“In terms of volume, 489,594.50 metric tons of export cargo were facilitated at Tin-Can Port as against a total volume of 291,436 metric tons recorded the same period last year,” he said.
Nnadi said that Soyabeans ranked as the highest export commodity worth over N92 billion while self-adhesive ranked as the lowest export commodity with a value of N17.6 million.
The Customs boss attributed the increase in export value to the high degree of stakeholder engagement, accessibility of the Tin-Can Island/ Mile 2 port access roads, improved efficiency from the Command’s officials, and other innovations introduced by Customs within the period under review.
Nnadi said that Tin-Can Island Customs generated about N575 billion in revenue in the first six months of 2024, representing a 221.13 percent increase compared to 2023 figures.
“This 2024 half-year revenue represents an increase of over N315.2 billion from N260.3 billion revenue generated in the corresponding period last year. This aligned with the statutory functions of the Service in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation and enforcement/anti-smuggling activities.
“Customs, being the lead agency at the ports through its enforcement unit has coordinated several 100 percent physical examinations in collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure the Command is freed of any form of non-compliance to the international trade cycle,” Nnadi said.
He said the Command also recorded some seizures including three plastic drums concealing several packets of Cannabis Indica and 46 bags containing 2144 packets of Cannabis Indica all weighing 1,072kg imported from Canada.
“The approximate street value of the illicit substances is over N3.2 billion while the total Duty Paid Value of all the seizures amounted to N8.9 billion,” he said.
Nnadi pointed out that the significance of the seizures isn’t the amount but the ability to stop the injection of illicit drugs, arms and ammunition into the country.
Nnadi said the launch of the Time Release Study (TRS) has brought some gains to Tin-Can Island Port Command, adding that the findings will be formally released by Adewale Adeniyi, comptroller general of NCS.
While stressing the need for more stakeholder involvement in the TRS initiative, Nnadi equally co-opted MARAN as one of its strategic partners for TRS.
He enjoyed the association to continue playing a strategic role in ensuring the development of the port sector.
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