Senate Moves To Increase Nigeria Customs’ Revenue Target

The Senate is currently reviewing the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with a proposal to increase its revenue target of N5.079 billion from the second half of the year.

This measure is being considered to prevent the country from having to borrow more money.

During a meeting with the Comptroller General of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, and other top management officials of the agency, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Isah Jibrin, expressed the need for revenue-generating agencies to step up their efforts to improve the economy.

Regarding the high unemployment rate, the lawmaker pointed out that Customs is not the sole employer of labor. He stated that they can only employ several people they can adequately care for and that the Senate is pressuring them to exceed the benchmark of 1,600 employees.

In response to questions from lawmakers, the Comptroller General of the NCS revealed that the service is seeking government approval to grant waivers to owners of smuggled cars, allowing them to regularize the payment of their Customs duties. He explained that individuals possessing illegally imported vehicles or needing to pay duties will have a three-month window to visit Customs House for assessment and payment.

The Comptroller General assured that there will be sufficient publicity to ensure that those in such a situation can have their vehicles regularized by paying the required duties.