Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun is worried over what she called consistent drop in revenue collected by Nigeria Customs Service.
The minister, who spoke during a one-day inspection of Customs facilities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, also faulted the absence of modern container scanning equipment at the nation’s airports, seaports and land borders.
According to Kemi Adeosun, one of the major means of detecting contraband goods at these borders is through the deployment of container scanners.
She attributed the lacklustre performance over the year by the Customs to the use of outdated equipment even as she promised to upgrade the equipment for the purpose of Increasing efficiency
Adeosun, who was accompanied by the Comptroller General of Customs, retired Colonel Hammed Alli, reiterated the determination of the current administration to boost revenue through the provision of enabling tools and equipment that will aid the various revenue agencies.
According to her, the use of obsolete equipment negatively
impacts revenue collected by the agency and promotes
inefficiency.
This was even as Colonel Alli said that the equipment needed for the nation’s international airports would cost N20 Billion. He said the Customs Command will soon meet with the minister to discuss the funding requirement of Customs in detail and expressed confidence that with the support of the minister, the problem will soon be over. [myad]
Advertisement
