By Michael Agbaji
Senate Committee on Customs has asked the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to plan for upwards reviews of its revenue in the second half of the year that the N5.079 trillion 2024 revenue target of the agency will be realistic with economy situation in the country.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Isah Jibrin made the called on Monday in Abuja at meeting with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi and the Senate committee on Customs.
According to him,first of all, Nigeria is saddled with lot of debt obligations and we need to wriggle ourselves out of that trap and one of the ways with a plan drive revenue. Customs is one of the major providers of internally generated revenue and as it is today, we expect them to play one of the major roles in this drive to reduce our debt burden.
“We need to pay off what we are owing now and minimize additional loans we are going to take. Customs is in a very good position, if they are able to block all perceived leakages, they should be able to generate significant amount of income that will enable Nigeria get out of debt, at least partially.
On revenue loss due to waiver on some import goods exemption certificate, otherwise called concessions given to some sectors of the economy, which amounts to N1. 876 trillion in 2023, the Kogi East senator said it was in the over all interest of the country to enable some agencies create employment to youths across the country.
He also advised the Custom management to considered the children of Nigeria living in the border community in recruitments and provides cooperate social responsibility them.
