By Olubunmi ISIOPHKE, Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Tin Can Island Command, under the 18 months stewardship of Comptroller Kunle oloyede has witnessed a monumental revenue generation, massive contraband seizures and robust stakeholders synergies and partnerships.
The Tin Can Island Customs Command in the first quarter of this year raked into the federal coffers over #260 Billion and continued to sustain the trend with strategic network of ideas and informations that yielded massive contraband seizures within the period under review.
This information was in a statement issued signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, and made available to GLOBAL RAYS Media, reads in part: “It is no longer news, that Comptroller Olakunle Oloyede who has been the Controller of the Tin Can Command of the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS) since the last 18 months or thereabouts, was one of those redeployed recently, by the Comptroller General, Bashir Wale Adeniyi, MFR, as part of the ongoing measures to enhance the fulfillment of the Service’s mandates.”
However , “What is really the news, particularly to the uninformed, is the very enviable legacy , in terms of positive impact, he left behind , which will continue to rub off positively on the operations of the Command.”
On capacity for results, “Suffice to say, that the redeployment, is a form of change of positions , and in adherence to an aphorism , ‘only change is permanent’ while, for Oloyede , who has been moved to Imports and Exports at the Headquarters of the Service, in Abuja , it is indeed another phase of the recognition of his capability and competence to re-engineer and turn things around in his new seat.”
Compt. Kunle Oloyede, achievements and impacts are huge, “This is against the backdrop of the strings of achievements, he recorded during its stint as the Controller of the Tin Can Command, and the diversification and backward integration programme of the Federal Government, particularly from dependence on Oil to reliance on export.”
Endowed with the dexterity and ideas for creativity, Compt. Oloyede not only possesses the capacity to churn out innovative policies to boost export on his new seat , but also the wherewithal, to enunciate measures to ensure that the requisite revenue is collected for government from the available Imports.
However, “Notable area where Oloyede distinguished himself as an information computer technology (ICT) expert is in the area of excellently pioneering the VIN Valuation policy at the Tin Can Command , thus computerizing and standardizing the duty to be paid on each used vehicle, regardless of the year of make.”
In addition, Compt. Kunle Oloyede, has made positive impact ,include, revenue generation, even with the downturn in the volume of import , which, characterized most part of his stay in the Command ,and anti- smuggling, exemplified by the massive seizures he made .
On trade facilitation and ease- of – doing business, Comot. Oloyede also left a legacy of spartan implementation of the Federal Government fiscal policies, improvement in the Ease of Doing Business Policy(EODB), as well as that of the facilitation of legitimate trade .
The statement added, “This is because it takes not more than 48 hours to now secure delivery of goods from the Tin Can Command , once the importer complies in the area of payment of the requisite duty on goods.”
On discipline and simplicity on duty, Compt. Oloyede also bequeathed a culture of collaboration, synergy and cooperation with relevant security and other agencies , thus utilising the opportunity to enhance the performance of the Command , while he also left a tradition of discipline , simplicity , commitment to duty , promptness at work and open – door policy.
The statement asserted, “The capacity of the Comptroller in the area of adding value to the handling of exports , was demonstrated at the Command as he was able to increase the Free on Board (FOB) of Exports, it handled in 2022, by 34.4 per cent to $589,696,648 or N242,365,322 333.00.This is, as against , $496,075,796 or N141,985,109,159.00 ,it recorded in 2021.”
On revenue generation, “Due to some effective reforms he undertook some holistic strategic steps to ensure that the Command was able to generate its highest revenue of N574,290,210,599.38 in 2022 , as compared to N493,682,369,264.35, in 2021.”
“Also in the first half of 2023, the Command recorded N260,256,942,120.69 , a difference of N14,063,773,058.09 ,compared to N274,320,715,178.78, in the same period of 2022. The next Controller would be challenged by this feat , achieved despite the sharp reduction in the volume of imports in recent times.”
On anti-smuggling activities, Comot. Oloyede , undoubtedly left a robust tradition of anti -smuggling at the Command from which the newly deployed Controller , should take a cue.
“This is because his drive yielded remarkable successes in the first half of 2023 as a total of 1,442 Packets of Colorado Indica with a combined weight of 519.45kg and a street value of N721 million together with the means of conveyance and 2 suspects, were handed over to NDLEA ,in strict compliance, with the Service Headquarters’ directive.”
Adding, “To lend credence to the fact that the Controller bequeathed a culture of safeguarding the lives and health of the citizenry , through seizures ,the goods impounded comprised 763 pkgs of Colarado (Cannabis Sativa) weighing 345.1kg, with a street market value of N714,600,000.00, as given by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).”
It added, “Others, are ,2,594 pieces of ammunition and 20 pieces of Arms comprising 1 Pistol with 611090 (S/W) model JCP 40mm, 1 used Co2 Air Pistol with accessories cal 117(4.5m)BM, 1 Marksman repeater pistol, 6 Mace pepper and 10 suspected arms of various types as well as 206,000 pieces of finished machetes.”
Under the stewardship of Compt. Kunle Oloyede, “The Command also made 38 seizures of N1,846,372,083.50 in Duty Paid Value (DPV) as compared to 27 in 2021, with a DPV of N607,267,617.00 , achieving a rise of N1,239,104,466.50 in DPV.”
“In spite of the fact that vehicle importation reduced more drastically, by the beginning of 2023 , due to the high exchange rate of the dollar ,used in importing goods and calculating import duty ,the cash crunch and the economic downturn, among other factors, Oloyede still ensured that the Command performed creditably so far this year.”
With firm resolve to protect and enforce fiscal policies compliance, “A Certified Risk Manager by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and a non conformist , when it comes to adequate revenue generation , the fact that he had to utilize its competence to burst efforts by fraudulent importers and agents to cheat government of its revenue as well as well as block loopholes in revenue generation defined the achievement , the Command recorded in revenue generation.”
Sequel to his unalloyed commitment and resourcefulness, Compt. Oloyede received various commendations from stakeholders ranging from importers , customs agents, shipping companies , terminal operators and others , who have had course to interact with him ,when he was in the saddle.
On value addition, Comptroller Oloyede, added to the operations of the Tin Can Command , despite the challenges , it is certain that he will also use his experience and capability to bring about a turn- around in the fortunes of the import and Export , at the Customs Headquarters.
