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The flagship Command of Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command has recorded a remarkable revenue generation in the first quarter of the year 2021.
The Command, in the first three months of the year collected a total sum of N159,582,047,134.11 as duty and other charges into the Federal government coffers.
Briefing news men on Monday about the activities of the Command for the first quarter of the year, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Yusuf Mallanta Ibrahim, disclosed that the Command has collected revenue to the tune of One hundred and fifty-nine billion,five hundred and eighty-two million, forty-seven thousand, one hundredand thirty-four naira. and eleven kobo (N159,582,047,134.11) in the first quarterof the year (Jan-Mar.2021) as customs duty and other charges.
This, he said represents 44.8% increment in duty collection when compared to the last year figure of over N110b in the same corresponding months, January- March 2020.
Comptroller Yusuf stated that the recorded difference was made possible because of robust stakeholders engagement,officers resolute in discharging their duties and an increased level of compliance inthe trader’s zone.
In the Commands anti-smuggling drive, he hinted that Officers and men of the Command are always at alert in enforcing government fiscal policies and facilitation of legitimate trade which has aided the significant seizures of 23 containers of various items within two months of his assuming leadership of the Command.
He itemized the seized items to include unregistered pharmaceuticals such as tramadol/codeine, used clothing’s, foreign parboiled rice with a duty paid value of Seven hundred and seventy three million, eight hundred and nine thousand, six hundred and twenty naira (N773,809,620.00) between the months of February to March 2021.
He however added that the total seizure for the first quarter (Jan-Mar2021) stands at 28containers with a duty paid value of One billion, eight hundred and seventy-onemillion, nine hundred and forty-four thousand, three hundred and seventy naira (N1,871,944,370.00).
The Command boss said “These are all importations in breach of sections 46, 47, 161 of the Customs and Excise Management Act CAP C45LFN 2004 and schedules 4&6 of the Common External Tariff (CET). These cases are in various stages of investigation and youwill be briefed from time to time as investigation progresses”
Speaking on export , Comptroller Yusuf said “The export statistics extracted from the system revealed that goods worth Forty-onebillion, five hundred and fifty-nine million, three hundred and seventy-eight thousand, twenty-nine kobo (N41,559,378,029) have been exported through Apapa port between January-March 2021.
“These exports include manufactured products such as soap, textiles, noodles, agricultural products such as Cashew nuts, Hibiscus, Sesame seeds and other mineral resources.
“The total tonnage of the said export stood at 116 million tones with FOB value of One hundred and nine million, six hundred and fifty-five thousand, three hundred and fifty-one US Dollars ($109,655,351.00)” he quipped.
While appreciating stakeholders and other,sister government agencies in the port for their immeasurable support he disclosed that the Command has improved on its existing collaboration in the areas of information sharing and other areas that will further make it difficult for perpetrators of trade malpractice to succeed in the port.
Yusuf added “We have also achieved enhanced Customs Community Relations through meetings and strategic engagements with various stakeholders including importers, licensed customs agents, media and others who interface with Customs in trade supply chain.
“It is on this note that I want to urge Officers and men of the Command to remainfocused and steadfast in discharging their assigned responsibilities at any given time”
