| 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 finalized. When the budget is finalized, 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 organized 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 analyzed 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 analyzed 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.
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Source: Tribune
