Maritime

Customs Implements Importers TIN Policy

Published

13 years ago

April 19, 2013

The Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) has started the implementation of the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for all importers.

The NCS said it will clamp down heavily on defaulters that failed the March 31, 2013 deadline.

TIN, a tax identification number was introduced by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as an interconnectivity policy for the purpose of clearing goods at Nigerian ports.

According to the directive issued by Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) Umar I.A, to all Area Controllers, all customs commands were directed to inform all importers and Customs licensed Agents that they must have to pay the sum of N1,500 for the new e-form “m”, if they must import into the country.

The e-form “m” is a requirement for all shipments into Nigeria. Before now the form “m” was issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) manually.

The CBN has also mandated all Authorised Dealer Banks (ADBs) to charge the new amount for each declaration of electronic form “m” otherwise known as (e-form “m”).

It said the fee was necessary following the successful deployment on the single window trade portal and the commencement of online submission of form “m”.

The apex bank has issued a circular authorizing Dealers, Importers, Traders and the general public that there should be a direct debit of the processing banks current account for each declaration.

The letter was signed by W.D Gotring, Director, Trade and Exchange of the CBN and dated March 21, 2013.

“The charge on the customer for the e-form “m” should be separated from other bank charges”, the CBN stated.

The CBN also announced the commencement of self submission of the e-form “m” on the Nigeria single window trade portal by importers and traders, using foreign exchange.

According to the Bank, the self submission was necessary after the successful deployment of the trade portal by the Nigeria Customs Service.

The CBN said that the e-form “m” is a web based and allows the importers and traders to initiate the form from the comfort of their offices or houses and submit same to the authorised dealers”, that they will be cut off, if they do not replace their Registered Company (RC) number with the new TIN number.

The directive was titled “Replacement of RC number with Tax identification number”, the letter advised all importers and traders wishing to do business in Nigerian ports to get their TIN before the expiration of the time given by the Customs service.

With the expiration of the given date by the customs, stakeholders are worried that business may be dull as a result of the policy.

Already the various terminals at Lagos Ports are witnessing a fall in their revenue profile as a result of low imports.

Maritime

Customs Kaduna Command Generates ?5b Revenue In Oct

Published

2 weeks ago

November 10, 2025

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kaduna Area Command, has achieved a new revenue milestone, generating ?5.16 billion in October 2025

The Area Command said the feat was the highest monthly revenue ever recorded.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Ridwan Yusuf, revealed this in a Statement made available to Journalists

The figure, Yusuf said, represent 96 per cent increase above the monthly target and a 196 per cent target performance.

Yusuf said that the command collected ?39.79 billion between January and October 2025, compared with ?24.06 billion generated during the same period in 2024 reflecting a substantial year,on year growth.

the Area Controller, Comptroller Saad Hassan, attributed the record performance to the dedication and professionalism of officers and stakeholders, in line with the modernisation agenda of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.

He identified improved stakeholders’ engagement, digitalisation of excise operations, and enhanced officers’ motivation as key factors driving the Command’s success.

“The Command’s performance demonstrates the effectiveness of our current operational strategies and our unwavering commitment to national economic stability,” Hassan said.

He assured that the command would continue to sustain the momentum by facilitating legitimate trade and improving revenue collection mechanisms.

The Command also reaffirmed its resolve to uphold professionalism and integrity in line with the service’s overall mission of trade facilitation and economic growth.

By; Chinedu Wosu

Maritime

Shipper’s Council Advocates Sensitization Of Staff On NSITF Scheme

Published

2 weeks ago

November 10, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called for proper Sensitization of staff on the proposed insurance scheme by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, NSC, Akutah Pius, made the call while playing host to a courtesy visit by NSITF officials to his office, in Lagos.

Represented by Director of Human Resources Management, Alhaji Mustapha Zubairu, Akutah emphasized the Nigeria Shipper’s Council commitment to prioritizing staff insurance and health, citing existing policies with positive impacts on employees’ lives.

He requested NSITF to strengthen its legal framework to enable the NSC to fully benefit from the scheme.

Earlier, the Team Head, NSITF’ Adegbite Oludotun said that the organization provides compensation for insured government employees in case of injury, disability, or death during active service.

While commending the NSC for registering with the scheme, Oludotun assured adequate compensation for employee claims and safety.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Maritime

Navy Rescues Six Male, Five Female Passengers From Drowning In Rivers

Published

2 weeks ago

November 10, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Nigerian Navy Service NNS has rescued six male and five female passengers from a sinking speedboat along Bonny waterways in Rivers state

This is contained in a Statement by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, and made available to newsmen, in Abuja.

Adams-Aliu said the rescue operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny, along the Bonny River.

According to the statement, the boat, which departed Nembe Waterside Jetty in Port Harcourt for Coal Beach Jetty in Bonny Island, developed engine failure midstream and began taking in water near the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne, Rivers State.

He said the swift response of the Naval patrol team under heavy rainfall prevented a major tragedy as all 11 passengers comprising six males and five females, were safely evacuated and taken to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Jetty for medical checks.

“The rescued victims were later handed over to the Marine Police for onward reunification with their families,”

The Naval spokesman said the Navy, in another Operation last wednesday, intensified crackdown on crude oil theft with the deactivation of multiple illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta.

He said personnel of FOB Escravos dismantled two sites at Obodo Omadino Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.

“Similarly, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team uncovered and deactivated another site with cooking ovens, reservoirs, sacks, jerrycans, and dugout pits filled with stolen crude and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil around Bakana and Isaka areas of Rivers.

“Also, personnel of FOB Bonny dismantled a refining site at Eyamba Community in Bonny Local Government Area, while NNS DELTA patrol team deactivated another at Opumani Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta,”

Adams-Aliu said the operations reflect the Navy’s renewed commitment under the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to ensure maritime safety, protect national assets, and promote lawful economic activities.

The statement reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy would sustain the momentum in its fight against crude oil theft and all forms of illegality within the nation’s maritime domain.

By: Chinedu Wosu