Lagos- The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday identified failure of the terminal operators to facilitate trade as a major hindrance to its revenue drive.
The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Tajudeen Olanrewaju, told the newsmen in Lagos that the terminal operators had also been hindering national security.
“Is also important to note that the revenue from sales of petroleum products is dwindling.
“ This makes it compulsory for Nigerian government to source for revenue in other areas particularly revenue accruable from airports which is substantial.
“The Nigeria Customs Service is accountable for this revenue.
“In the face of national threat regarding terrorism, the Murtala Muhammed Airport command, cannot fold our hands to allow this threat to national security.
“ We are going to stand up to our responsibilities and we are ready to shed the last (drop of our) blood to protect these two functions – national security and revenue to government.
While we facilitate trade, continued lapse by the terminal operators in these areas can no longer be tolerated.
“That is why the terminals were closed and the warehouses within cargo sections at the Murtala Muhammed command were shut down.
“So that the terminal management can address those issues that threaten national security and hinder revenue accruable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
”Until they address this, the terminals will remain shut.“
He said that the service had been authorised to operate in a conducive environment while collecting revenue for government, but added that the terminal operators at the airport had failed.
Olanrewaju said the service would exercise its powers as provided under Section 145 (1) (b )of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LFN 2004.
“The Comptroller-General of Customs has directed that the command should identify these items and allow passage of perishable items, medicaments, legitimate trade, diplomatic cargo.
“While these warehouses that have violated the domestic rule to protect the Nigerian economy and national security are shut down, the Nigeria Customs Service is going to facilitate these items.
“That is the reason we call this conference to educate the Nigerian people through the press that what we are doing is conducting our statutory functions in line with guidelines by the Fiscal Policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Anybody that stands in our way , we ensure that the Nigeria Customs Service has the capacity to quash this resistance that jeopardises national security and revenue accruable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.“
He, however, warned touts as well as any group of persons trying to frustrate the service in discharging its duties toward revenue generation to desist from such act. (NAN)
