From Zika Bobby
Dauda Ibrahim Chana, Controller of Customs in charge of Kano and Jigawa states, in this interview, said the command collected N82,873,914,567.63 for the first 10 months of 2024 and made seizures of prohibited items from smugglers worth over N351 million.
Overseeing Customs operations in Kano, the commercial capital of Northern Nigeria where Dala Inland Dry Port is situated, Chana said his command is deploying technology for trade simplification with adequate monitoring of the six excise factories on his watch.
Revenue collection
The Kano/Jigawa Area Command has consistently exceeded its revenue targets in recent years. The total amount collected from January to October 2024 stands at N82,873,914,567.63
The command has implemented various strategies to enhance revenue collection, including increased border surveillance, improved risk management and enhanced stakeholder engagement.
Seizures and arrests
The command has made significant seizures of contraband items, including drugs, narcotics, and other prohibited goods. The duty paid value of the items is N351,282,757). Several arrests have been made in connection with smuggling activities as well. Just recently, I handed over 74,790 tramadol tablets to the Commander of Narcotics Kano State, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmad Idris.
Customs community relations
The command has fostered strong relationships with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in both states. These relationships have been instrumental in combating smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade. Earlier in February, I accompanied the then Zonal Coordinator (Zone B) ACG Ogbudu and her entourage to a working visit to Maigatari Border Station of Jigawa State and we equally visited the Emir of Kano at his Palace.
Later in the month of March, I visited Maigatari Border Station again, for the return of seized grains as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC)
Traders’ compliance
The command has been working to improve traders’ compliance with Customs laws through various initiatives, such as capacity building and awareness campaigns. One of such initiatives is the command’s convening of a sensitization workshop aimed at enhancing understanding of Customs procedures and regulations among licensed Customs Agents and Bonded terminal operators, and improve compliance with trade facilitation standards and foster collaboration between stakeholders in promoting legitimate trade which held on October 10, 2024.
Excise operations
The command oversees excise operations in the region, including monitoring the production and distribution of excisable goods.
They work to ensure that manufacturers comply with excise regulations and pay the appropriate taxes.
The command has six functional excise factories: Nigerian Bottling Company, Seven up bottling Company, Mamuda Beverages Nigeria Limited, Joyreap foods and Beverages, Froot Multi Trade Nigeria Limited and Moa Feng Global Trust Limited. These factories primarily produces carbonated drinks, non-alcoholic beverages and sweetened fruit juices, generating an average of N500 million monthly, which significantly contributes to the revenue collection drive of the command.
The command also has some non-functional factories that are under constant monitoring, and efforts to discover new factories are ongoing through intelligence gathering, field surveillance and public awareness campaigns.
Trade facilitation
The command has implemented various strategies to facilitate trade, including the use of technology, simplified procedures, and stakeholders’ engagement meetings.
One of such programs was an Orientation Program we conducted for various enterprises operating at the Free Trade Zone, Kano State on March 21, 2024. The Command followed that by hosting a Capacity Building Program of Zone ‘B’ officers on Advance Ruling from the 29 April – 02 May 2024.
We also attended the Official Flag-Off of Freight Train Service to DALA Inland Dry Port by Minister of Transportation, May 28 2024 which will ease the movement of goods from Lagos to Kano.