CGC
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that Nigerian economy is now earning about N11billion daily from the nation’s ports. That is following the border closure policy of the Federal Government with increase in cargo through puts.
The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali(rtd), made this disclosure at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)/ Centre for International Private Enterprises’ Stakeholders’ Forum on the impact of border closure on Nigeria’s economy in Lagos yesterday. He said that the border closure policy has forced many manufacturers and exporters of manufactured goods to start patronizing the country’s gateways as the daily revenue generation moved up from N5 billion to N11 billion currently.
Ali, who was represented at the occasion by the Assistant Controller General/ Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’ Lagos, KC Ekekezie, explained that the shore up in daily revenue generation by the Agency to N11 billion currently is enabling the Federal Government to channel this amount to build more infrastructure and develop critical sectors of the economy following increased in cargo through puts at the gateways.
Ali explained that initially, before the commencement of the border closure policy of the Federal Government, the Agency was making between N40 million and N45 million daily in revenue generation and this moved up to about N5 billion at the pronouncement of the border closure on August 20 last year, while it has hit N11 billion daily currently.
In addition, the Comptroller General explained that the border drill has also curbed the diversion of petroleum products from Nigeria to other neighbouring countries, adding that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) records shows a 30 per cent drop in fuel consumption, “which means that we have been subsidizing fuel for the neighbouring countries all this while.”
Particular, the Comptroller General of Customs stressed that the border closure was an omen to the integrity and image of the country and her economy, saying that this was not the first time the government of the day will shut down the border to address the arising economic, security and foods challenges.
“The Nigerian borders have been confronted with challenges arising from severe economic leakages and security through our land borders for years without no recourse to checkmate it. These challenges include armed banditry, smuggling, illegal migration, illicit drugs trafficking and proliferation of light weapons among others, which have led to increase in insecurity and economic downturn to Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has engaged the Customs Administrations of our neighbouring countries severally. In fact, I want to take you to the some years back in 2005. If you recall that was when the first border closure happened. Some of our Customs Controller Generals, two of them and some other high ranking officers went to our neighbour, Benin Republic. They were welcomed. They were put in one hotel for three days. Nobody spoke to them. At the end of the three days, they had to come back and they reported what happened and that was why the then President, General Olusegun Obasanjo shut down the border for the first time. So, shutting down the border is not happening for the first time. This is the second time it is happening and it is always the same problems.”