The six- month waivers on import duty on rice, granted by the Federal Government following the global food crisis, may affect the Nigeria Customs Service N270 billion target for 2008.

This was disclosed in Kano by Deputy Comptroller General of customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Mr. Ezekiel Okeniyi, who led members of the customs management team to a one-day fact finding tour in Kano State.

The customs chief, who represented Comptroller General, Hamman Bello Ahmed, told journalists at the Bompai office of customs where he met with officers of the command, that the 2008 target for customs is N270billion as against N230billion in 2007. He pointed out that the 2008 target might not be feasible owning to some economic decisions taken by the Federal Government.

His words: "In 2007, we were given N230billion by the Budget Office of the Ministry of Finance, which we exceeded by N8billion. The 2008 target is N270billion but we have our fears if this target would be made, largely because of government six-month suspension on duties payable on rice following the growing fear over global food shortage".

He, however, stated that customs would continue to do its best to improve its revenue generation, not withstanding some of the impediments, which have the potential of slowing down revenue generation exercise.

He highlighted some of the programmes of the new management towards improving productivity, among which is an improved welfare for officers and men of the department, as part of the measures to enhance performance for greater results.

According to him, it is also part of the plans by the new management to reposition customs to achieve maximum results, pointing out that a number of strategies to that affect have been put in place.

He recalled that in the last two weeks, the management team had been meeting with different categories of stakeholders, comprising shipping agents and other clearing bodies towards tackling problems confronting customs operations especially the issues of goods clearance within 48hrs, which he said they were brainstorming over to ensure its workability.

The management team used the forum to promise improved welfare for officers and men of the service, saying that at the moment, "we are trying to gather intelligent information on what is on ground, inspect our projects, talk to our officers to know their problems and to enable us take a decision on how to deal with the situation".

"We have been in Lagos, spoke with stakeholders, agents and shipping companies; this is because we believe we can not carry this assignment alone especially on the issue of 48hrs clearance of goods from the Federal Ministry of Finance".

He opined that the 48hrs target can only be possible if the necessary equipment is provided and with the cooperation of stakeholders. He added that it is possible to achieve but "we have to be knowledgeable on the issue. We have to have the gadgets and we also have to put in place other equipment that would make it possible for you to stay in Kano or lodge-in your entry and pay your duty".

One whether smuggling is on the increase, the team disagreed that smuggling is on the increase. They said going by records available to them, customs has done a lot in tackling smuggling, even as they admitted that it will be difficult to totally eliminate smuggling in any part of the world.