The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, yesterday presented the service’s 2024 budget to the Senate Committee on Customs at the National Assembly.
He stated that this would be done through awards, promotions, and payment of allowances. Additionally, the Customs boss pledges to surpass the revenue target of 5.079 trillion naira in 2024. According to him, the revenue target for 2024 is 27.75 per cent higher than the target for 2023.
Furthermore, Adeniyi, the agency’s former spokesman, outlined strategies to achieve the 2024 target, including implementing the National Single Window championed by the Federal Ministry of Finance. He also harps on strategies to harmonise and standardise Customs processes, port decongestion, collaboration with other agencies for efficiency and competitiveness, anti-smuggling operations, integrating ICT into operations, investing in capacity building, and stakeholder engagement, among others.
He emphasised supporting local production and taking food security seriously. He stated, “We intend to grant waivers to vehicle owners to pay duties within a specific time to avoid sanctions and to regularise the importation of vehicles through payment of duties.
“The service plans to recruit 1,600 personnel in 2024. The low figure is due to the small vacancies we have available. These vacancies are primarily for junior staff who will carry out Customs operations and guard duties. In subsequent years, more recruitment exercises will be carried out.”
He, however, noted that the service had a shortfall of 12.62 per cent in its 2023 revenue target, citing concessions in Section 99 of the Common External Tariff (CET), import duty exemption certificates, cash crunch, general elections, and other factors affecting revenue generation negatively.
He assured of a positive outcome in 2024. Senator Isa Jibrin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, applauded the Head of the Customs Service for the progress and success achieved in his brief tenure in office, urging him to perform better as the house will support him in terms of remuneration and infrastructure.
