Customs KLT Command, Generates N48bn Revenue

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command (KLTC), Compt. Tilley-Gyado is making the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) proud with her managerial acumen, dedication to statutory duties, hard work, and resilience in promoting trade facilitation, revenue generation for economic growth.

At present, the Command under her watch has collected a whopping sum of N48 billion in revenue for the Federal Government, out of the allotted target of N62 billion for 2023 fiscal year.

Also, Compt Tilley-Gyado is strengthening collaboration with all stakeholders, even as she is working assiduously to enhance trade facilitation for more revenue inflow for the government.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Maritime Journalists Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), she said: “I believe strongly in teamwork and effective collaboration.

“Immediately I assumed office as the Area Controller, I embarked on working visits to all stakeholders, including shipping companies. I believe strongly in working synergy to help me achieve my own mandate of revenue generation”.

Speaking further, she said tThe Command is strategically positioned. Boxes can go by barges to the Alaba-International market, as well as the trade fair complex.

“We have sufficient space to work on. The Command has the capacity to accommodate up to 6,000 TEUs but at the moment, we don’t have up to that number.

“In Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Customs Command, we give priority to our statutory responsibilities at all times. Freight Agents and maritime traders can take delivery of their containers in 48 hours”.

More so, aside being highly skilled in Customs procedures, Compt Tilley-Gyado operates an open-door policy that makes it easier for freight agents and other stakeholders to approach her freely.

She is a Controller, who can stand up from her seat to solve problems brought to her attention by freight agents and her subordinates.

Our news inquest revealed that administrative bottlenecks and bureaucracy common in seeing some Area Controllers in other formations have no place in KLTC because Compt. Tilley-Gyado believes in getting the work done at the right time.

She is highly time conscious and very committed. Her humility in public office has endeared her to many stakeholders in the maritime industry. She remains focused on doing her job, yet unassuming.

She is doing her best to reposition the Command for greater productivity going forward. Since she came on board, Compt Tilley-Gyado has worked tirelessly to assist new Terminals at KLTC in getting approvals. These include Beachline Consortium, Cimax Logistics, and Skymarine Terminal.

Through her commitments, the three terminals; Beachline Consortium have gotten probational approval, Cimax Logistics has been granted final approval and Skymarine terminal has also been given final approval for operations at the port. These efforts by the CAC are geared towards enhancing trade facilitation and more revenue collection for economic sustainability.

In the same vein, the DC Revenue of KLTC, Mrs S.M. Wadinda extolled the virtues of Compt Tilley-Gyado, describing her as an exemplary team leader, a goal-getter and a competent administrator.

Mrs Wadinda explained that getting more containers at the Command will boost revenue collection for the federation account.

Her words: “We wait on other ports to get containers by barges and transfers. Without the boxes, the revenue cannot match up.

“The CAC has done a lot and her efforts translated into an increase in revenue collection on the N48 billion we have realised so far.

“It will interest you to know that we also have an export terminal here at KLTC. The sea is just beside us. The Command is small but we are working hard to see how best we can increase revenue generation”.

Recall that before now the KLT Customs Command was seriously impeded by the traffic gridlock which blocked Vehicular movement in and out of the Command. This means that officers had only one choice, ride on bikes to get to the office with all the associated hazards but when Tilley-Gyado came on board, she quickly solved this puzzle by collaborating with all Security Agencies managing traffic on that axis. The result is that officers and men of the Command, Freight Forwarders as well as other visitors to the Command can now conveniently drive on one side of the lane into the KLT Command. This is one of the many reasons the KLT Command is witnessing a transformational revolution, championed by no other than Compt. Tily Gyado.