MMIA Customs netted N3.1bn in March

By Shola Adekola Tribune.com.ng

The Customs Area Controller, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of Nigeria Custom Service, Mr Eporwei  Edike, has declared that the  command generated about N3.1bn in the month of March, 2012.

Also, he explained that the revenue of the command had increased in the last three months when compared with previous year, saying that with such revenue generations, the command would exceed its target at the end of the year.

Edike, who resumed in February at the command, explained that the policy of persuasion and compliance that the command had employed was responsible for the growth in the revenue being experience in the last two months.

Speaking while receiving the leadership of the Lagos State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in his office, Edike said; “We are working on compliance as we are using persuasion and 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”

Edike emphasised that with the agents well treated, they would be happy to comply with the laid down rules on payment as the command makes sure nobody is made to pay more than expected.
This he said has also impacted positively on the revenue of the command since he resumed, “Our turnover is far more than that of last year at the same period. We make it our duty to ease the pains of people. We give a lot of attention in not delaying goods.”

The CAC also disclosed how his organisation seized explosives smuggled into the country through the airport and ensnared the owner who lived in Kaduna to come to clear the goods in Lagos and when he  arrived he was quickly handed over to concerned authorities for prosecution.
“We seized these explosives; the importer was in Kaduna and we used intelligence to bring him here and handed him over to the police,” he added.

Speaking on touting at the airport, the CAC explained that there was little they could do about it as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) allows them into the airports, but quickly added that they were in control of it.

“We will try as much as possible to manage them(touts)  within  what the laws allow.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos NUJ, Deji Elumoye, thanked the CAC for the supports he has given journalists since he resumed at the command