By Shola Fadeyi
Sequel to the impressive performance of the Tin Can Command of the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS),in the areas of revenue generation, handling of exports , seizures and trade facilitation in 2022 and till date , Importers and Customs agents have described the Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Olakunle Oloyede , as an officer with a Midas Touch.
The stakeholders were agreed that it has been possible for the Command to record improvements on all its Mandates, since the Controller assumed office , due to his Golden Touch and the various reforms he has put in place.
They said that Oloyede has been able to use his knowledge of Information Technology , as an expert in the area, to plug loopholes and increase revenue generation markedly , detect and deter smuggling, as well as enforce discipline, open door policy , education and training to` improve on the level of compliance by importers and agents.
Two of the stakeholders who spoke with the Marine and Economy : the new Patron of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) , Prince Taiye Oyeniyi and the Chairman of the Tin Can Chapter of ANLCA , Alhaji Mohammed Mojeed said that Oloyede has used his talents for the improvement of Tin Can Command operations.
Oyeniyi explained that Oloyede has used his Magic wand to attract cargoes to the Command , complement its import revenue from vehicles and boost the revenue base of the Command , as well as made it possible for agents to have the opportunity of clearing such cargoes there..
.He described him as an excellent administrator ,who has an excellent open- door policy through which agents , who have issues with the clearing of their goods have gotten solutions in a very professional manner , which make trade facilitation to be achieved.
According to Mojeed , the fact that the Controller has also been having constant engagements with the representatives of the customs agents , through their being constantly trained has made him to improve the freight forwarders and customs brokers understanding of the VIN valuation .
Mojeed stated that Oloyede demonstrated his ingenuity in ICT as well as his problem solving ability , the way and manner he introduced the new automated Platorm to replace the Non Standard VIN Valuation , which he said has simplified and fastened the pace of clearing of such vehicles , due to the massive training he gave to the agents on the new Plaforrm.
Oyeniyi and Mojeed were in agreement that Oloyede’s positive impact due to his various reforms engendered by his Midas Touch made it possibible for the Command to generate over N574 billion as revenue for 2022 increased 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.
According to them, it is also out of the Tin Can Command Controller’s ingenuity, that he was able to effectively implemented the relevant government fiscal policies as well as maintained peace impound N714m worth of Colorado, and made other seizures worth N1.8bn In 2022.
