Within the period of January 2023 till date the Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) has made 16 seizures worth a duty paid value of N1.4 billion and recorded the collection of a total of N502,987,516,219.26 as revenue within the same period under review.
According to a press statement signed by the Commands Public Relations Officer, CSC A Usman, it reads that Customs Area Controller of the Command , Comptroller Auwal Baba Mohammed, who described the revenue collection and seizures made as fallouts of increased compliance, urged officers to redouble their efforts in revenue collection, trade facilitating and strict enforcement of anti smuggling activities.
The statement also reads that the command made it’s highest daily collection of N9.2b on July 20, 2023 being the highest it ever achieved in its existence since the port was established.
In the area of trade facilitation, it states that the Command under the leadership of Comptroller. AB Mohammed has achieved an increased level of compliance by importers, exporters, and their agents through deliberate system profiling and manifest tracking.
Under his direct supervision , dedicated officers of the command are using the system profiling yardstick to gauge the integrity levels of importers and consignees.
This has helped in treating traders in line with their previous transaction records, which is reassuring that compliance pays through time saving and cost efficiency.
The Controller urged all port users to be complaint and advised that compliant traders are shielded from the risk of getting their consignments seized; imposition of penalties after demand notices and possible arrests for prosecution as the case may require.
According to Comptroller Mohammed, non compliant traders spend more time and money paying for terminal space due to demurrage plus higher cost due to DN”s and penalties.
It also states that Comptroller Mohammed has raised the level of electronic manifest tracking to accelerate trade facilitation leveraging on available technology.
The CAC however described this feat as a masterstroke in the journey towards trade facilitation and ease of doing business.
The Command recently held a monthly meeting of Terminal/Unit Heads where the Comptroller exhorted all officers of the command to sustain and improve upon the level of discipline the command has been noted for under his watch.
He characterized discipline as the foundation of good work etiquette, such as punctuality, diligent application of Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 and other noble virtues that align with the law.
He stressed further yhat Nigeria has high expectations of the NCS and that the service is looking up to Apapa Command for its highest collection.
The Command boss however charged officers and men of the Command to use their knowledge of the job and the rules guiding the service to facilitate legitimate trade.
In his words, ” As we facilitate trade for compliant traders, let’s be wary of the possibility of releasing uncustom goods in error or in the guise of facilitating trade
“I hereby charge you to do better in the second half of 2023 as the glory for the successes recorded in the first half belongs to all of us” the CAC said.
The statement reads further that the seizures made within the period under review comprised of prohibited drugs, used tyres, rice, vegetable oil, and sundry items.
“It is noteworthy that the command made a seizure of two pistols inside one groupage cargo. One suspect is arrested, and the matter is undergoing investigation” it reads.
