Lagos airport Customs rakes in N3.1bn

 By JIMOH BABATUNDE Vanguardngrnews.com

IKEJA—  Comptroller of Nigeria Customs Services,  Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Lagos, Mr. Eporwei Edike, has said the  revenue of the  command in the last three months had increased.
He said the command generated about N3.1 billion in March and that from what they had  generated in the first week of April, the service was looking forward to exceeding the target at the end of the year.
Edike, who resumed in February at the command, explained that the policy of persuasion and compliance employed by the command was responsible for the growth in the revenue experienced in the last two months.
Speaking while he received the leadership of the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in his office, Edike said: “We are working on compliance and using persuasion, not force to get the target.”
He noted that the command had been able to make people know that they are working for them, adding that no official was allowed to keep paper for more than 10 minutes without treating it, “except the agent says  let me consult with my clients if there are faults seen on the document and  the agent cannot  provide answer.
“This latest method has eliminated the crowd at the cargo shed of the airport and also boosted the organisation’s revenue.”
He said with the agents well treated,  they will be happy to comply with  the  laid down rules on payment as the  command makes sure nobody was made to pay more than expected.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Lagos NUJ, Mr Deji Elumoye thanked Edike for the supports he has given to journalists since he  resumed at the command.