Onne Customs targets N120bn revenue
The Controller of Area 2 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Onne, Port Harcourt, Alhaji Muhammed Magaji, said yesterday that the command expects revenue of N120bn for the year 2014.
Alhaji Magaji, who spoke at a stakeholders’ interactive session for importers and clearing agents at Onne, also advised licensed custom agents and importers to refrain from under declaring the value of imported goods, warning that such action would attract the full wrath of the law.
“The federal government has given the Nigeria Customs Service a whopping target of N1.2trn for the year 2014. Onne port Command was given a target of about N120bn. We can only achieve the revenue target through your mutual cooperation by ensuring compliance in your declarations.
“Today, the invention of PreArrival Assessment Report (PAAR) which replaced the Risk Assessment Report has gone a long way in facilitating trade. The PAAR has also reduced physical interaction between Customs officials, importers and their agents, as most of the deals are done online in the comfort of their offices and homes. The Nigeria Customs Service has also come up with a trade hub, which gives the stakeholders in the importation business accessibility to information. It also guides them on the rules and regulations of import tariffs and other requirements,” he said.
He stated that the federal government has approved the extension of the validity of the 2008-2012 common External Tariff with a period of another one year and charged both importers and agents to assist the Command in meeting its target by ensuring compliance in their declaration.