Customs rakes in N20bn at Lagos Airport

Customs rakes in N20bn at Lagos Airport Col.

Hamid Ali (rtd), new Customs boss The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) command has disclosed that it generated N20.111 bn between January and July, 2015. In July alone, the command generated the highest ever duty by taking in N5.209 billion. Besides, the sum of N179, 326,838 was collected from the international wing of the airport from the informal trade alone following the close monitoring of merchandise in baggage by officers of the command between January and July, 2015. According to the service, the amount generated from the informal trade alone would have been lost if not for the commitment of eagle eyed officers deployed at the arrival halls. In a statement clarifying the operational modalities of officers at the arrival hall of the airport signed by the command's Public Relations Officer, Williams Thelma, the service explained that it has appointed First Bank as the designated bank for the collection of import duty which is processed using the passenger Electronic Baggage Entry System (PEBES). "The duty payable is calculated based on the tendered invoice value of said items. Where invoices are unavailable, passengers are referred to the valuation units where imports are assessed using valid data in the system", it said. According to the statement, "Recent events at the arrival and departure halls of MMIA Ikeja, Lagos has made it necessary to clarify issues relating to the operational modalities of officers posted to the arrival 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." It reminded the passengers of the statutory requirement to make declaration of all cash in excess of 10,000 USD both at points of entry and exit. The service also charged travellers to be patient and honest during routine checks and questioning, urging them to contact the help desk or the PR unit to resolve any dispute. "MMIA command has been diligent in carrying out its responsibilities with regards to trade facilitations, duty collection and enforcement of prohibition....Officers at MMIA are committed to the ongoing reforms in the country and are showing diligence in bringing about positive change to the society ", it said.