Economy
Customs Revenue Collection Jumps 21.4% to N3.2trn in 2023
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NC), has recorded N3.2 trillion in revenue collected in 2023, a 21.4 per cent increase over the preceding year’s revenue of N2.6 trillion despite facing significant operational hurdles.
The Customs Comptroller-General, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, made this announcement this week in Abuja at a news conference on the NCS activities in 2023.
Mr Adeniyi said that the 2023 performance was remarkable given the fact that the NCS recorded a revenue shortfall of N532 billion in the first half of 2023.
He said the year was marked by operational challenges including lower transaction volumes, compliance issues, inadequate infrastructure, and capacity gaps compounded by delays in policy implementation and socio-political factors.
He added that the anxiety associated with a major election year, and the prolonged cash crunch linked with the Naira redesign programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, which temporarily impacted purchasing power and economic activities, further hampered revenue performance last year.
Also, the transition of power to the President Bola Tinubu-led administration brought about a new policy direction, including the removal of fuel subsidies, the floating of the exchange rate, and the closure of the country’s Northern borders with Niger Republic, further added to the complexity of the operating environment for the service.
Mr Adeniyi said these challenges led to a revenue shortfall of N532 billion compared to the N1.84 trillion target in the first half of 2023 but following his appointment as CGC in July last year, as well as merit-based reconstitution of the customs management team, there was a significant shift that enabled the service to exceed monthly revenue targets by 6.71 per cent for the first time in 2023.
He specifically attributed the positive change to strategic measures, including the immediate establishment of a Revenue Review Recovery Team and the dissolution of existing Strike Force Teams, streamlining enforcement under the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), and extensive stakeholder engagement.
Mr Adeniyi also expressed NCS commitment to end petroleum products smuggling in 2024 adding that the service would block all attempts to smuggle weapons and other contraband into the country.
“Our zero approach towards smuggling, especially petroleum products, rice, arms, and ammunition, out of the country would be rigorously enforced. We remain resolute on addressing border management challenges, balancing security concerns with trade facilitation,” he said.
Mr Adeniyi added that the NCS had conducted a vigorous campaign against smuggling and illicit trade in 2023, which resulted in 3,806 seizures of illicit items, including artefacts, antiquities, drugs, food products, and endangered species of flora and fauna, among others.
“Remarkably, we also achieved during this period a total of 52 convictions, 11 of them specifically linked to illicit trade in animal wildlife. This is also a record performance through diligent prosecution of our cases and the successful conviction of some of those criminals who were apprehended.
“Noteworthy is the international acknowledgement garnered for the Service’s efforts in combating this illicit trade in animal/wildlife. This steadfast commitment underscores the NCS’s dedication to protecting Nigerian society, maintaining a resolute stance against smugglers, and diligently dismantling their operations,” he said.
Going forward, he highlighted that numerous strategic initiatives are poised to positively impact the Service’s performance in the coming months.
These initiatives he enumerated include the introduction of the Advanced Ruling system, aligning NCS operations with global best practices, and meeting the recommendations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
He said the NCS is set to inaugurate an electronic auction, e-auction, platform strategically designed to enhance transparency in the auction process.
The CGC said the service remained committed to facilitating the achievement of the newly set revenue target of N5.079 trillion which is aligned with the government’s economic objectives for 2024.
“This target signifies the government’s confidence in the NCS’s capabilities and underscores the service’s important role in contributing to the nation’s fiscal wellbeing.
“The strategic initiatives detailed above, alongside other operational reforms, are anticipated to play a crucial role in achieving this revenue goal.
“As the NCS addresses the challenges and opportunities in 2024, the service is steadfast in its commitment to implementing these strategies and exploring practical approaches to meet the heightened revenue target. This commitment aligns with the NCS’s ongoing dedication to efficiency, excellence, and positive contributions to Nigeria’s economic landscape.”
Mr Adeniyi emphasised that the NCS will maintain a zero-tolerance stance towards indiscipline and non-compliance in the year 2024, and urged all officers and stakeholders to adhere strictly to established procedures and regulations as maximum cooperation is expected from every stakeholder in the customs operations.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Four securities weakened the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 1.95 per cent on Friday, erasing N41.17 billion from the bourse, which had its market capitalisation at N2.567 trillion compared with the previous session’s N2.618 trillion.
In the same vein, the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) decreased at the close of business by 85.28 points to 4,277.07 points from 4,362.32 points.
The price decliners were led by 11 Plc, which gave up N20.50 to sell at N200.50 per share compared with the preceding day’s N221.00 per share, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc dropped N16.94 to close at N155.20 per unit versus Thursday’s closing price of N172.14 per unit, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc went down by N2.11 to N84.68 per share from N86.79 per share, and Afriland Properties Plc lost 11 Kobo to end at N16.74 per unit, in contrast to the N16.85 per unit it closed a day earlier.
During the trading day, the value of transactions jumped by 172.1 per cent to N29.9 million from the preceding session’s N10.9 million, and the volume of trades soared by 136.5 per cent to 955,096 units from the previous 403,901 units, while the number of deals went down by 11.4 per cent to 31 deals from 35 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units worth N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 68.6 million units sold for N4.7 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, trailed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units traded for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
By Dipo Olowookere
The last trading session of this week on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited ended on a negative note, with a 0.66 per cent loss on Friday.
This was influenced by sustained selling pressure and cautious trading, which forced investors into profit-taking.
Data obtained by Business Post showed that the energy sector fell by 4.66 per cent, the insurance counter dipped by 2.23 per cent, the consumer goods index depreciated by 0.96 per cent, and the banking segment shed 0.28 per cent, while the industrial goods space remained unchanged.
At the close of business, the All-Share Index (ASI) of Nigeria’s stock exchange went down by 1,531.81 points to 232,049.02 points from 233,580.83 points, and the market capitalisation dropped N983 billion to settle at N148.905 trillion compared with Thursday’s N149.888 trillion.
Aradel was the worst-performing equity after it lost 10.00 per cent to close at N1,417.50. International Energy Insurance slipped by 9.95 per cent to N5.79, Trans-Nationwide Express depreciated by 9.89 per cent to N3.28, eTranzact crashed by 9.79 per cent to N14.75, and UPDC slumped by 9.72 per cent to N28.12.
The best-performing equity for the day was Universal Insurance, which gained 6.32 per cent to close at N1.01, McNichols grew by 5.52 per cent to N8.60, Linkage Assurance expanded by 4.67 per cent to N1.57, NGX Group appreciated by 4.35 per cent to N120.00, and Transcorp increased by 3.62 per cent to N41.50.
As look at the activity level indicated that investors traded 388.7 million stocks worth N18.4 billion in 44,631 deals compared with the 393.7 million stocks valued at N19.2 billion executed in 45,813 deals a day earlier, representing a decline in the trading volume, value, and number of deals by 1.27 per cent, 4.17 per cent, and 2.58 per cent, respectively.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira recorded a loss of 82 Kobo or 0.06 per cent against the United States Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, June 26, exchanging at N1,380.93/$1, in contrast to the previous day’s rate of N1,380.11/$1.
Equally, the domestic currency further weakened against the Pound Sterling in the official FX market yesterday by N6.06 to settle at N1,824.90/£1 versus the preceding session’s N1,818.84/£1, and lost N10.74 on the Euro to sell at N1,577 .58/€1 versus N1,566.84/€1.
At the GTBank forex counter, the Naira depreciated against the greenback during the session by N4 to close at N1,387/$1, in contrast to Thursday’s value of N1,383/$1, and at the parallel market, it was unchanged at N1,395/$1.
Interbank FX activity among financial institutions has fluctuated amid a sharp slowdown in forex market interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as it allows demand and supply to move the market.
Also, a stronger greenback has generally put significant pressure on emerging-market currencies.
Nigeria has accessed the first tranche of a proposed $5 billion derivatives financing arrangement with First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, the largest lender in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The $5 billion facility, approved by the National Assembly earlier this year, is part of the federal government’s plan to diversify external financing sources and reduce borrowing costs. Structured as a Total Return Swap with First Abu Dhabi Bank, proceeds are earmarked for refinancing debt and supporting infrastructure financing.
If the proceeds are brought into the country through the official FX market, the transaction will increase the currency reserves or Dollar liquidity.
At the cryptocurrency market, Solana (SOL) grew by 2.2 per cent to $71.92, Cardano (ADA) gained 1.1 per cent to trade at $0.1474, Ripple (XRP) also appreciated by 1.1 per cent to $1.05, Dogecoin (DOGE) expanded by 0.9 per cent to $0.0755, and Ethereum (ETH) improved by 0.4 per cent to $1,578.84.
On the flip side, TRON (TRX) slid 0.6 per cent to $0.3203, Binance Coin (BNB) slumped by 0.3 per cent to $564.33, and Bitcoin fell by 0.2 per cent to $60,219.37, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 each.
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