The Apapa Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday reported a revenue generation of N1,023,663,842,255.63 in the first six months of the year (January to June 2024), representing a 143 per cent increase over the same period in 2023.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, while announcing this in press conference on Monday boasted that this was amidst a sharp drop in the volume of trade.
He attributed the feat to extra measures put in place to prevent loses of government revenue, stating that upon his assumption of office as the CAC of the Command, he inaugurated a revenue recovery committee with a mandate to critically look into areas of leakages especially in bonded terminals under Apapa Command.
According to him, to facilitate trade Apapa Command applies a blend of intelligence with community relations for better awareness of its operating environment, adding that there was a dedicated team charged with the responsibility of addressing all complaints or disputes in record time escalation to his office.
He also gave credit to relationship with sister agencies as part of avenues to the huge success made in Apapa Customs Command, while praying for a more successful second half of the year through cooperation and team work.
On anti smuggling activities, among other seizures, Olomu highlighted that the Command last week uncovered a large quantity of expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals in 3x40ft container numbers TCKU 6928184, MRKU 4422733, MRSU 5550243, and another 3x40ft container nos. 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 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET).
“These importations violate section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023,” he stated.
ANTI SMUGGLING
“Members of the press, it is pertinent to mention that just last week, we uncovered a large quantity of expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals in 3x40ft container numbers TCKU 6928184, MRKU 4422733, MRSU 5550243, and another 3x40ft container nos. 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 of 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 on citizens are unquantifiable and as a responsible service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing them from being exposed to this dangerous importation.
“In 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 cargoes 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 arrests where necessary to protect the national economy and prevent Nigerians from exposure to dangerous or unwholesome products like illicit drugs.
RELATIONSHIP WITH SISTER AGENCIES
“We are in close touch with sister government agencies working like a team with shared responsibilities. I want to commend the Nigeria Police, Department of State Service (DSS), NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, NIS, NAQS, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and others for their support so far. We made progress together and will continue to collaborate in the national interest,” the CAC’s speech read in part.
He used the medium to register the Command’s utmost appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the entire management team of NCS for providing the needed support and leadership in discharging responsibilities of the Command.
He also thanked officers and men of the Command for their resilience, the stakeholders for their support and urged that they 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,” Olomu concluded.