Customs targets N900bn revenue in 2017

DESPITE the fact that it is yet to be given an official revenue target for 2017, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it is targeting between N700billion and N900billion for the year.

This was stated by the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the celebration of this year’s International Customs Day with the theme, “Data Analysis for Effective Border Management”, in Abuja.

He noted that by the time the National Assembly passes the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law, the government would eventually give the Customs it revenue target for the year.

“We have not been given (official revenue target). We are working on it. We are working between N700billion to N900billion. It has not been finalised. When the budget is finalised, we will get the final figure,” the Customs boss informed.

He declared that in spite of the fact that the Customs was unable to meet up with the official revenue target of N937 billion for last year, the NCS still did extremely well.

According to him, “It (official target) was N937billion for last year. We got N898billion. We are a little bit short. If you appreciate the trading volume, you will know that Nigeria Customs has done extremely well.”

Speaking earlier in his opening remark at the event organised to celebrate the Day, Ali stated that the Customs’ automated process was fast turning it into a data bank for national planning.

He further submitted that data generated and analysed from Customs’ ICT platform was beneficial as it helped to measure performance and improve practice and integrity process.

“In line with the present Federal Government change mantra and the need to eliminate vices that impede development, NCS automated process is fast turning the Service into a dependable data-bank for national planning.

“Apart from providing a platform for synergy among security and regulatory agencies in Nigeria, data generated and analysized from our ICT platform is beneficial to the Service as it helps to measure performance and improve practice and integrity of the process. This can also improve revenue collection, trade facilitation and border security,” the CGC stated.

He informed that the Customs was aware of the importance of data analysis to its operation, adding that through this, the NCS was able to generate N878,673,857,451,07, including Value Added Tax (VAT) and made a total of 6,190 assorted seizures, including arms and ammunition and other dangerous items.

“NCS is aware of the importance of data analysis to its operations. Through such activity, the Service was able to collect a total of N878,673,857,451.07, VAT inclusive and made total of 6,190 assorted seizures in 2016 including spectacular seizures of arms and ammunition and other dangerous items,” Ali informed.

The Customs boss further stated that since automation and increased attention to data analysis, experience had shown that quality data collation and analysis had helped the NCS in the areas of risk management, predictability, collaboration and national planning.

According to Ali, “The Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) reporting module, Integrated Reporting Information System (IRIS) enables the Service and other security regulatory agencies to generate reports which help in decisions regarding trade and fiscal policies.”

While assuring that NCS management would continue to make data analysis a strategic priority by acquiring cutting edge technology to strengthen the automation process, the Customs boss urged officers and men of the Service and other stakeholders to avoid vices which can negatively impact on its data.

“I urge officers and men of the Service and our valuable stakeholders to jettison all vices that can negatively impact on our data by ensuring compliance to extant laws,” he warned.

In her remarks on the occasion, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, stated that NCS was a trade facilitator, adding that the use of data analysis could not be overemphasised.

Represented by the Director of Technical Services in the ministry, Hajiya Lare Shaibu, the minister stated that data sharing among states was very important in cutting revenue leakages.

She informed that the Federal Government was making efforts to introduce a single data window for all government agencies, noting that it had been an herculean task to get agencies to collaborate in this regard.

Adeosun submitted that data analysis was very important, saying that, “there cannot be national planning and budgeting without data analysis.”