Comptroller Abba-Kura
the global pandemic ravaging the world economy, the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command said it has recorded a whooping sum was of N227.3 billion in the first half of 2020.
The amount recorded indicate 11 percent revenue increase in comparison to N203.2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2019.
Addressing news men at the command, the Customs Area Controller in-charge of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Abba-Kura disclosed these yesterday during the commands mid year press briefing.
Comptroller Abba Kura hinted that the revenue came as the Command processed over N52 billion worth of export goods during the period under review, while the Command also intercepted contraband goods with Duty paid value of N15.9 billion within same period.
The command boss added that if the pandemic subsidies, the Command is confident that it would not only meet its 2020 revenue target but will surpass it.
“You will notice that there is a steady improvement in revenue collection all through the first half of the year except the month of May which recorded a decline of about N3.55 billion when compared with the revenue collected in the corresponding month in 2019.
“The Command in the half year of 2019 collected a total sum of N203.2 billion as Customs Duty and other charges like seven per cent surcharge, VAT, one per cent CISS among others while in 2020 (January to June), the Command collected a huge sum of N227.3 billion. This represents an increase of 24.1billion indicating 10.59 per cent increase from the previous year,” Abba Kura said
He further disclosed that a total of 142 containers laden with contraband goods of various items with a duty paid value of N15.9 billion were intercepted by the Command in the review period.
A breakdown of the seized items includes two assorted vehicles (Rolls Royce 2018 and one Lamborghini Hurracane Sport Car 2019 model) with Duty paid value of N324.5 million. Other items include Pharmaceuticals, Rice, Used clothing and shoes, Vegetable oil, packaging materials, detergents, candy milk, used tyres, cigarette filter, rugs, textile materials.
As regards some of the commands officers who recently tested positive to the novel Corona virus, Abba-Kura said that they have all recovered and have returned to their work.
“As regards to this issue of Covid 19, the Service has from the outbreak of the pandemic taken steps to ensure that we are safe.
“Doctors were sent to us from the headquarters to train and enlighten us on how to abide by the NCDC safety protocols.
“We thank stakeholders who gave support by providing us with Hand sanitisers, washing lotion, and face masks. We are keeping safe and happy to announce that all customs officers who tested positive to Covid19, have all fully recovered and back to their jobs. I thank all the caregivers that took care of our officers,” he quipped.
