Customs Achieves 81.5% Increase In PEBEC Ranking

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has announced that the Service achieved a remarkable 81.5 percent increase in its Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) ranking.

Speaking to newsmen, the comptroller general of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the service moved up 33 places to tie at the top with four other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) out of 36 assessed.

Adeniyi who stated the Service’s trade facilitation measures implemented within the past year contributed to this improvement.

LEADERSHIP reports that ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are ranked by activities under eight broad indicator levels, including efficiency reforms based on service delivery within stipulated timelines, transparency reforms, the review and update of Services Level Agreements, and support for manufacturing and agriculture export.

Adeniyi said, “between 2020 and 2022, the NCS maintained an average percentage score of 18.45 per cent, ranking 28th out of the 37 MDAs ranked. By 2023, the NCS ranking fell further to 34th out of 39 MDAs, with a percentage score of 18.53 per cent.

However, by 2024, I am delighted to announce that the NCS moved up 33 places, now tied at the top with 4 other MDAs out of the 36 MDAs assessed, with a percentage score of 100%, marking a 81.5 per cent increase.

“This remarkable improvement is directly attributed to the trade facilitation measures implemented within the past year. The NCS remains committed to ensuring that all recommendations and global best practices are implemented to the highest standard.”

He added that the designation of a dedicated terminal for exports also yielded significant gains, facilitating the processing of export goods through the Lilypond Command and accounting for 19.49% of total 38,294 export transactions recorded in 2023.

He said by the first quarter of 2024, the Service has processed a total of 10,786 transactions, with 3,162 (29.32%) of these processed through the dedicated export terminal.

“Initially handling 317 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) in transactions, the terminal now manages 7,464 SGDs, accounting for 19.49 per cent of the total 38,294 export transactions recorded in 2023,” he said.

“The Service also recorded 724 seizures of 2.93 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) that were attempted to be smuggled out of the country.

The illegal dealings in petroleum evacuation have garnered the interest of relevant stakeholders, and the ongoing Operation Whirlwind will continue to intercept and disrupt the activities of smugglers in this regard.

Adeniyi attributed the Service’s success to collaborative engagements with stakeholders, ensuring smooth operations and facilitating revenue generation.

He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to protecting society, ensuring national security, and implementing global best practices to the highest standard.