Tin Can

Lagos, July 23, 2023: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in TinCan Island Port Command has recorded an impressive revenue drive on non-oil export with an increasing  291,436.43  Metric Tonnes (MT) from January to June.

The Customs Area Controller, TinCan Island Command, Comptroller Adekunle Oloyede in a statement on Friday in Lagos, noted that the export was through Free On Board (FOB).

Oloyede said that in terms of volume (MT) and value (FOB) the export trade recorded an exponential growth within the period under review.

According to him, comparatively, from January to June, the tonnage of goods exported through Tin Can Island Port Complex (TICPC) increased from 138,246.5 (MT) to 291,436.43 (MT).

This represented an increase of 110.8 per cent over the previous year under review.

“The FOB value of exports increased from N110,447, 250, 811 in the first half of 2022 to N182,333,764,943 in the first half of 2023, representing an increase of 65 per cent.

“The commodities exported from the command essentially includes agricultural  and other allied products namely; Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Beans, Cashew Nut, Sesame Seeds, Rubber, Empty bottles and copper ingots,” he said.

Oloyede noted that within the period under review, the command participated in several sensitisation  symposiums on  non-oil export, and participated in the CBN RT200fx where a lot of benefits to export trade were highlighted.

On revenue collected within the period under review, Oloyede said the command generated N260.3 billion in the first half of the year under review.

“The first half collection in 2023 runs at a variation with the first half of 2022 with a total collection N274.3 billion with a difference of N14.1 billion.

“On monthly basis, N42.5 billion was collected in January; N41.5 billion in February; N42.8 billion in March and the months of April, May and June had N36.5 billion, N46.5 billion and N50.4 billion respectively,” he said.

He said the critical roles played by the Customs Intelligence Unit,  Valuation Unit, Customs Police Unit and Post Clearance Audit for their sustained interventions translated to the blockage of revenue leakages by enhanced compliance towards the attainment of the revenue drive.

On the command’s enforcement crusade, Oloyede said the command’s anti-smuggling drive yielded remarkable successes in the first half of 2023.

“Being the lead agency at the port, the enforcement unit coordinated several anti-smuggling activities in synergy with other critical stakeholders in the trade value chain.

“The synergy led to the arrest of a total of 1442 packets of Colorado Indica with a combined weight of 519.45kg extracted during 100 per cent joint physical examination of eight containers.

“The total street value according to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) sources is N721,000,000.

“The means of conveyance in these cases, with the substance and two suspects were handed over to NDLEA in strict compliance with the service headquarters’ directive,” he said.

Oloyede noted that the command had zero tolerance for  importation of unwholesome goods such as drugs, arms and ammunition, adding that the mandate from the service as well as the protection of the Nigeria society was the driving force.

“We have continually put in proactive measures aimed at keeping our frontiers free from illicit and illegitimate trade,” he said.

Oloyede also congratulated the service for the recent smooth transition and appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for the supports received by the command.

Lagos, July 1, 2023: The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) has expressed concerns over the collapsing quay apron of the Tin Can Island Port of Lagos.

The President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere, expressed the concern in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

Bivbere said there was the need for the rehabilitation of other ports around the country.

He said that the association had concluded plans to host maritime stakeholders to a breakfast meeting to discuss workable solutions to the deplorable state of the port.

“The association is troubled that ships are now avoiding the Tin Can Island Port due to its collapsing quay apron and this is detrimental to the economy since the government relies on the revenue generated from the ports on a daily basis.

“As part of our agenda-setting function, MARAN is organising the meeting to discuss workable solutions to the deplorable state of the Tin Can Port, as well as the need for rehabilitation of other ports around the country,” he said.

Bivbere added that the event would be used to inaugurate the newly elected officials of the association.

“The association is worried that the collapsed quay apron of the port is already leading to vessels avoiding the Tin Can Port and this will lead to loss of revenue for the Federal Government,” he said.

Bivbere said that the breakfast meeting with the theme: Rehabilitation of Tin Can Island Port: Proffering Workable Solutions,” would hold on July 6.

He said that various stakeholders expected at the meeting are the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani and the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko.

Others include the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Emmanuel Jime, various commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), shipping companies and terminal operators, among others.

Tin Can Island Port in Lagos has received its largest container freighting vessel ever, MSC Maureen, a 300 meters-long vessel.

MSC Maureen was built in 2003 (20 years ago) and sails under the flag of Panama.

Her carrying capacity is 6,750 twenty-foot containers.

The Port Manager, Mr Buba Jubril, said on Tuesday that the berthing of the vessel marked the arrival of the longest vessel to ever call at the Lagos pilotage district.

He described the development as a ground breaking achievement at the port.

“A vessel of 300 meters length will automatically fetch the Nigerian Ports Authority and government huge revenues in dollar terms and this will go a long way to benefit the country.

“The port is expecting more of such vessels in the future,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Deputy Comptroller of Enforcement at the Tin Can Island Customs Command, Mr Gambo Aliu said the berthing of the vessel was an affirmation of the standards available at the port.

He noted that this was a manifestation of efficiency and a big revenue earner for the country.

“This container carrier can carry thousands of containers and this portends more revenue and more development for the nation,’’ he said.

Similarly, the Harbour Master, Capt. Ibrahim Habib said with the arrival of MSC Maureen, the port had been able to maximise the potential of its channels.

He noted that before now, the largest vessel the port had been able to berth was of 275 metres length.

He said that with the achievement, the port was gradually pushing the limits and the berthing of the vessel would help to increase investors’ confidence in the nation’s ports.

Pilot Emmanuel Samaila who spoke on behalf of other pilots said it was a great achievement to bring a vessel of 300 meters length to the Tin Can Island Port.

In his remarks, Managing Director of MSC Nigeria Ltd., Mr Andrew Lynch said the company had long been looking forward to Tuesday and had held several simulations and meetings with stakeholders.

Lynch added that the berthing of the vessel would bring greater benefit to Lagos importers and exporters and would make the port more competitive.

World’s largest container-freighting vessel remains MSC Tessa megaship delivered by China State Shipbuilding Corporation to the Mediterranean Shipping Company in March.

It has a deck area of about four football fields and capable of loading up to 24,116 20-foot containers at a time, stacked up to 26 deep.

It is the first ship that is able to carry more than 24,000 containers.