……..seeks more patronage
The Nigeria Customs Service Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) command has collected the total sum of NIO,572,518,271 between the period of January to March being the first quarter of the year, 2023 into the Federal Government coffers.
Meanwhile, according to the report , the command is under utilized as it’s operating below capacity, the Command, at the moment, functions at less than 10% of its installed capacity therefore admonishes for meaningful patronage.
The information was made available to the media through a press release from the Command’s Public Relations Officer superintendent J . Tunde Ayagbalo.
The Customs Area Controller, CAC in charge of the Command Comptroller Timi Bomodi, said that the generated figures of NIO,572,518,271 represents 76.87 percent of the expected revenue generation of the command within the period under review.
The CAC acknowledged the low revenue generation but he attributed it to the downturn in import volume of the command and the impact of monetary policy changes, the effect of exchange rates
on business, as factors for the overall effect.
Comptroller Bomodi although revealed that the command was able to cover up the shortfall in revenue with N68.5m from Demand Notices (DN) to avoid leakages.
The Comptroller affirmed the fact that Command is saddled with the responsibility of trade facilitation, revenue generation and the enforcement of fiscal policy with an anticipated revenue target of N55 Billion for the current year (2023),
However, he solicits for more patronage from the shipping companies and other critical stakeholders who had in the time passed overlooked the Command to have a change of mind by making the Command a strategic destination of choice for incoming and outgoing cargoes.
He said that
Prior to this period, KLTC was used as a transit hub for exports but since the establishment of an export processing terminal, all export procedures have since commenced in the Command with an anticipated uptick in export volume.
He also added that in the first quarter of 2023 a clinic was established for the Command and was commissioned by the ACG Zone ‘A’ on behalf of the CGC, this he said , has contributed significantly to the well-being of Officers as all health-related challenges are given prompt attention before they are referred to other facilities.
He maintained that Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command now has a strategic advantage over other ports in Lagos therefore advised well meaning stakeholders to utilize the advantage.
He described Its unique location which allows for immediate entry and exit as a key, although unlike other ports where there is an average waiting time of seven days but Its major impediment is the draft which restricts the direct berth of sea-going vessels.
Although, He said that the challenge has recently been overcome with the introduction of ocean-going lighter barges with the capacity of moving over 200 TEU’s.
In conclusion he expressed concern that even though KLTC has an installed capacity of handling about 6,000 TEUs but regrettably functioning at less than 10% of its installed capacity but believe will change in a short while if stakeholders embrace the idea of making the Command their choice as it has a lot of room for growth both for imports and exports as trade volume increases.
