Tin Can customs generates ₦1.2 billion daily, says comptroller

Tin Can Island Comptroller, Yusuf Bashar, at the weekend, disclosed that his command generates an average of ₦1.2 billion, daily to the Federal Government coffers.

Bashar made this disclosure during the inauguration/swearing in of the Tin Can Island chapter of the International Freight Forwarders Association (IFFA) and the official launch of the association’s operational vehicle.

Executive members who were sworn in include, Vice Chairman, Marvins Lawani; Treasurer, Chinedu Odiaka; General Secretary, Tope Fatimehin; Financial Secretary, Umunnakwe Ernest; Public Relations Officer (PRO), Christian Ekeyekwu; Assistant Secretary, Iyakwari Kyauta and Director-General (DG), Steve Igban.

The Customs’ boss used the opportunity to caution clearing agents against false declaration of cargo, under declaration, indiscriminate dropping of containers on port access roads and the illegal parking of vehicles around Tin Can Port.

Represented by the Deputy Comptroller in charge of enforcement of the command, Nnadi Dera, the comptroller urged the agents to collaborate with customs and other agencies in ensuring that port infrastructure, especially the roads are maintained.

Bashar also appealed to the agents to shun unnecessary violent protests at the port, saying that they should initiate their protest through viable communication with relevant government agencies.

“We seek your collaboration in ensuring that port infrastructure are maintained. We are urging relevant government agencies to maintain access road to the port. We also encourage you to talk to your members to park their vehicles appropriately. There is no need doing double parking.There is no need burning tyres on the road because they deplete the roads. There is also no need dropping your containers indiscriminately on the roads. We should help government to achieve its objectives.

“Everybody has the right to protest but the days of violent protests are gone. Today we encourage everybody to initiate their protest through viable communication with relevant government agencies” he said.

On the recent revenue collected by the command, Bashir said that Tin Can Customs has become a command to beat. He said that on the average, the command is making ₦1.2 billion daily for the government from the port, attributing the success recorded with the revenue to efforts from all stakeholders.

National President of IFFA, Dr. Sam Onyemelukwe, assured that his members were ready to collaborate with the Federal Government in meeting its expectations from the port and to ensure success in ease of doing business.

According to him, IFFA was established to bring about change, innovation in the sector. He described the association as an elitist association that has decided to come down to chapter levels, to look at the lacuna and to institutionalise global best practice.

Earlier, the newly sworn-in chairman of IFFA, Tin Can Island chapter, Ojo Peter Akintoye, assured that the newly-inducted executives of the chapter association have come to work to improve the lot of the members as well as other stakeholders in the maritime industry, saying that the newly-acquired operational vehicle (Siena Bus) of the association was the first of its kind at Tin Can Island Port and aimed at ensuring operations for its members.

“This is not a talk-based administration, neither is it a story-telling or promise- making administration. We are here to work and it starts immediately.

My team members have the relevant experience to address the challenges faced by agents at Tin Can Port. Together we would deliver the long-awaited ease of doing business in the port, where all stakeholders involved in the value chain are carried along.

We would build a port environment devoid of quarrel or violence, by using negotiation as an important tool of trade to midwife a harmonious relationship with other agencies, terminal operators, shipping companies and the Nigeria Customs Service.”he said.

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