APAPA CUSTOMS COMMAND GENERATES OVER N1 TRILLION IN FIRST HALF OF YEAR 2024
By Mcanthony Onuoha
Over One Trillion Naira has been announced by the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service as the amount collected as revenue in the first half of year 2024.
Addressing journalists on Monday, 8th of June, 2024, the Apapa Customs Command Area Controller, Compt. Babatunde Olomu disclosed that a whopping sum of One Trillion, Twenty Three Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty Three Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Three Million Eight Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Five Naira, Sixty Three Kobo(N1,023,663,842,255.65) was collected for the Federal Government from January to July 2024.
According to Comptroller Olomu, the amount showed an increase of 143 percent above the figures of Four Hundred and Twenty One Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty Two Million, One Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira, Forty Six Kobo (N421,382,166,378.46) collected in the corresponding period in 2023.
On achieving the feat despite a sharp decline in cargo throughput, the Apapa Command Area Controller disclosed that formidable measures had been put in place to prevent loss of government revenue.
In his words, “Upon taking over as Area Controller of Apapa, I set up a revenue recovery committee comprising of seasoned and dedicated officers with a mandate to carry out more detailed look into areas of leakages especially in bonded terminals under Apapa command.”
He further disclosed that the command within the period under review, made seizures of eleven (11) containers comprising of prohibited items such as expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals, footwears, used clothing, armoured cables, frozen poultry products among others with a cumulative Duty Paid Value of Four Hundred and Twenty Four Million, One Hundred and Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Five Naira (N424,105,975.00) as against Forty Two (42) seizures with a Duty Paid Value, DPV of N1.4 Billion made in the corresponding period in 2
“It is pertinent to mention that just last week, we uncovered a large quantity of expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals in 3x40ft containers numbers TCKU 69281884, MRKU 4422733, MRSU 5550243 and another 3x40ft containers Numbers MNBU 3934925, MEDU 9107559 and MEDU 9752980 loaded with Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty (7,580) cartons of frozen poultry products unfit for human consumption which is against schedule 3 if the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET). These importations violate Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”
“Let me state that the harmful effects of fake and unregistered pharmaceutical products in citizens are unquantifiable and as a responsible service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing them from being exposed to this dangerous importation.”
“In the light of the above, I want to use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion and other forms of criminality frowned upon by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other extant laws, that Apapa command is poised to nip illicit importation in the bud.”
“Consequently, in line with the CGC zero tolerance for smuggling, I have reformed the command’s way of treating transires by ensuring more meticulous management of cargo moving from the mother port to bonded terminals. This has become necessary to prevent a situation where smugglers attempt to perpetuate illegalities in bonded terminals.”
“To sustain this tempo, no cargo is allowed to exit from our control without thorough inspection using the scanner. We shall not compromise on this as we will keep making seizures, detention and arrest where necessary to protect the national economy and prevent Nigerians from exposure to dangerous or unwholesome products like illicit drugs “, he stated.
On facilitation of trade, the CAC maintained that the command was applying a blend of intelligence with community relations for better awareness of the service operating environment to achieve trade facilitation and fight criminality.
“I have a team of dedicated officers charged with the responsibility of addressing all complaints or disputes within record time before escalation to my office for prompt action.”
“I don’t run an open door policy because for me, there is literally no door at all if you want to access my office. My office is open for everyone to discuss anything that will facilitate legitimate trade and promote government interest at all times, including receiving information on suspected smuggling activities”, he added.
The Comptroller lauded other agencies for collaborating with the Command pointing out that team work and shared responsibilities contributed to the Commands outstanding achievement. He commended the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, DSS, NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, NIS,NAQS, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and others for the support so far. “We made progress together and we will continue to collaborate in the national interest”.
Expressing appreciation to the entire management team for their unwavering support, the Comptroller said, “I want to thank the officers and men of the command for their resilience, our stakeholders for their support and urge that we continually work together to achieve a better second half for 2024.”
“The contributions of our compliant importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, members of the media and all other esteemed stakeholders is not going unnoticed. I commend you all.”
