By Innocent Orok
The Apapa Port Customs Command as the flagship Command of the Nigeria Customs Service in its maximum revenue collection strategy said it has collected a total of N1,875,362,369,214.4), between January to October 2024, amidst decline in volume of trade.
Briefing journalists on activities of the Command on Monday, 4th November 2024, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu disclosed that the amount generated is higher than
N931,123,998,213.88 generated in the corresponding period of year 2023.This, according to him shows a 101 percent increase over year 2023 revenue figure.
Olomu said that the Command recorded highest monthly collection of N18.2bn in its history in the month of October, giving the Command confidence of achieving its 2024 revenue target.
In his words”It is instructive to state that our October 2024 collection is N264,455,587,792.56. This is the highest monthly collection in the history of this command. Therefore, we are hopeful of meeting and even surpassing Our target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds down”.
Speaking on the Command’s anti-smuggling drive, Olomu said the Command is handing over six containers of seized pharmaceutical and controlled products to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He added that the handing over is based on the instruction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir
Adewale Adeniyi MFR.
Olomu added that the handover underscores the robust inter-agency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and sister government agencies in the port.He stressed that the inter-agency collaboration demonstrates the Command’s ability to prevent illicit importation from entering the Nigerian market through the port.
“As a Service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing the import and export Of cargo that could undermine their well-being and security. These medical importations have expired, while others are not evaluated by NAFDAC and could cause damages to Nigerians, if consumed”
Highlighting the content of the containers which he said contravenes the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (CET) and section 233 of the NCS Act 2023.
“Some of the contents are unapproved dosage of tramadol, cough syrup with
codeine, injections and more.
However, from January 2024 to date, we have made well over thirty-six seizures of various items ranging from used clothings, frozen poultry product, Tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other controlled substances.These seizures are valued at over N1.5billion.
Speaking on Trade facilitation, Olomu disclosed that the Service Management is driving a modern and paperless system and Apapa Command is gearing
up to migrate from the old system to a new system while maximizing the benefits of what it presently have. He added that the command has keyed into trade facilitation tools like AEO and Advanced Ruling to ensure seamless movement of both import and export cargoes.
The Command also operates on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay, this is in line with the Federal Government agenda of ease of doing business.
“We also have an intra- government working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies.
“Equally, we have a wider Customs-stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to customs alone are looked into and addressed as and
when due. It is noteworthy to state that just last week, the command facilitated the first
shipment of cargo to Kenya under the AfCFTA regime.
“On my watch, the stakeholder’s compliance level in Apapa port has increased and this is a testament to the very regular interactions we have established as directed by the CGC”, The CAC quipped.
He however appreciates all sister government agencies and the Command strategic
private sector partners for being part of the success story, adding that their contributions have been invaluable and the impacts are evident in the Command’s scorecard.
