The premier Port Command of the Customs, Apapa has generated a total of N176, 756, 792,145.55 within the first six months of 2018.
This was contain in a revenue profile obtain by our Correspondent from the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Nkiruka Nwala.
The Command which has a monthly revenue target of N35.5b and mid year target of N213b, however recorded an increase of N11b when compared to the 2017 figure of N165,743,212,108.71 recorded within the same period of 2017.
The Command which has fully implemented its NICIS II has also overcome its teething problems associated with the new payment system and is churning out maximum revenue, while blocking leakages in the system.
According to Nwala, she is optimistic that with the roll out of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) in Apapa which is expected to block all revenue leakages as well as the repairing of the Apapa axis roads, the Command will build on her revenue profile in the months ahead.
The Area Controller, Comptroller Jibril Musa as stated in the release, said he will continue to reinvigorate all strategies and mechanisms put in place for the effective and efficient implementation of the Federal Government’s Executive order on the Ease of Doing Business.
” It is worthy of note to mention that the NCS is the lead Agency in the implementation of the presidential mandate and Apapa Area Command selected as the pilot command had since created the Central Examination Centre (CEC) where all stakeholders involved in cargo clearance Conduct examination at an agreed time with reports imputed almost immediately. This synergy/interfacing had paid off remarkably as consignments with no record of infractions are released within 24 hours while those with infractions are referred to dispute resolutions committee for further interventions/investigations” his words.
The Command in its anti- smuggling drive has also recorded 4 seizures of 4×40 ft containers of controlled drugs including tramadol in excess of approved milligrams with a duty paid value of N110, 016, 524. 00million, while recording a total of about 280,000 metric tons of various exports with a total FOB value of $115,093,562 US dollars in the same period.
On inter agencies relationship, the Command boss has pledged his resolve to keep strengthening the already robust working relationship/collaboration among all agencies of government for an enhanced international trade facilitation.
Recalled that within the period under review the command played host to different high-level Government delegations from within and outside the country with a view of promoting efficiency and facilitation of trade in the country.
The visiting governments officials are Senate Committee on Customs led by its chairman Sen. Hope Uzodimma, a delegation from Japanese Customs led by the Japan ambassador to Nigeria, National Committee on trade facilitation led by its Chairman Mr. A. M. Abubakar, New Commander Nigeria Navy Clearance Agency, NAFDAC Director in charge of ports inspection Prof. S. B. Adebayo and a delegation from NTA.
Others who visited the command include one of the NCS reform champions, DC Tony Anyalogu who sensitized officers on revised government fiscal policy in line with the presidential executive order and the new palletization policy.
The command also played host to the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in- charge of Excise industrial incentive and free trade zone (EII&FTZ DCG Iferi Patience (P.hD) who visited the LADOL Free Trade Zone and wharf to ascertain the compliance level to the provisions of laid down regulations on free trade zone concessions.
The visits aimed was to cement the already existing working relationship and to seek possible ways of improving the speedy consignment /cargo clearance.
The CAC who was motivated by the visit advised all to play it’s part,
“Nigeria is the only country we have as such we all have the responsibility of building it for sustainable development and progress. I advice all importers to make honest declarations in order to achieve timely clearance and release of their cargoes ”
“We appeal to all stakeholders and the general public at large. to cooperate with the NCS by always ensuring total compliance which at the long run will improve our ratings in the global trade indices for a seamless and speedy cargo clearance ” he quipped
