In the first quarter of 2024, the Port Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reported a significant increase in revenue, totaling nearly N67 billion. This figure marks a substantial growth of 46.9 percent compared to the revenue collected in the same period of 2023.
Comptroller Saidu Yusuf, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the PTML Command, highlighted the command’s commitment to enhancing efficiency by setting ambitious targets. Among these targets is a goal to achieve a two-hour clearance time for vehicles, aiming to surpass the previous record of three-hour cargo clearance for compliant traders.
Yusuf lauded the strategies initiated by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to expedite cargo clearance processes. He emphasized ongoing efforts, such as the implementation of a time release study (TRS), which aims to streamline operations and facilitate faster turnaround times for cargo.
The CAC expressed confidence in the PTML Command’s potential to achieve swift cargo clearance, provided that port users maintain high levels of compliance. He underscored the importance of compliance among importers and their agents, highlighting incentives available to compliant traders, such as fast-track services and the possibility of migrating to Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status.
PTML was described as one of the safest and most secure environments for handling Roll On Roll Off (RoRo) and general cargoes. The emphasis on safety and security aligns with broader efforts to promote ease of doing business within the port terminal.
Yusuf also addressed challenges related to smuggling, particularly the unauthorized entry of vehicles into Nigeria through unapproved routes. He condemned such acts as unpatriotic and detrimental to the nation’s economy.
The PTML Command affirmed its capacity to efficiently process automobile cargoes while maintaining vigilance to detect smuggling attempts and enforce penalties in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.