Apapa Customs Rakes N1.8trillion Revenue in 10 Months, Optimistic of Surpassing N2.2trillion Target for 2024
APAPA CAC ADDRESSING NEWSMEN
*Collects N264.4bn in October
*Records N1.5bn seizures, hands over seized pharmaceutical products, others, to NAFDAC, NDLEA
By Francis Ugwoke
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) on Monday announced a revenue generation of N1.8trillion between the months of January and October this year.
The figure is higher than what was realized during the same period last year which was N931.1bn.
In a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. Abubakar Usman, the amount realized between January and October this year was higher than what was generated during the corresponding period of 2023 by 101%.
The Area Controller, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, disclosed that the Command collected the sum of N264.4bn in October.
Noting that the amount was the highest collection so far in any month this year, Olomu expressed optimism of surpassing the N2.2trillion target for the Command.
He said, “ we are hopeful of meeting and even surpassing our target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds down.”
To ensure an efficient trade facilitation, he said that the Command is working on migrating from the old system to a new system.
According to him, “Furthermore, in line with the Federal Government agenda of Ease of Doing Business, the command operates on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay. We also have an intra government working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies. Equally, we have a wider customs-stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to customs alone are looked into and addressed as and when due.”
“It is noteworthy to state that just last week, the command facilitated the first shipment of cargo to Kenya under the AfCFTA regime.”
He disclosed that based on the instruction of the
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Command has handed over six containers of pharmaceutical and controlled products to NAFDAC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He explained that this was in line with the inter-agency collaboration between the Customs Service and other sister organisations.
He said, “As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing the import and export of cargo that could undermine their well-being and security”. He said that these medical importations have expired, while others were not evaluated by NAFDAC in what could be dangerous to health if consumed.
He further explained that the content of the containers contravenes the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (CET) and section 233 of the NCS Act 2023, adding that the same “contents are unapproved dosage of tramadol, cough syrup with codeine, injections and more”.
He also disclosed that the Command recorded 36 seizures of Tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, used clothings, frozen poultry product, and other controlled substances valued at over N1.5 bn.
He warned, “Let me remind all our port users that every consignment passing through the NCS in this port will be subjected to thorough examination using scanners and physical means when necessary.
“We shall continue to detect false declarations, concealment, under valuation and other unethical practices aimed at evading duties, short changing the government and exposing citizens to unsafe products.”
*Records N1.5bn seizures, hands over seized pharmaceutical products, others, to NAFDAC, NDLEA
By Francis Ugwoke
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) on Monday announced a revenue generation of N1.8trillion between the months of January and October this year.
The figure is higher than what was realized during the same period last year which was N931.1bn.
In a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. Abubakar Usman, the amount realized between January and October this year was higher than what was generated during the corresponding period of 2023 by 101%.
The Area Controller, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, disclosed that the Command collected the sum of N264.4bn in October.
Noting that the amount was the highest collection so far in any month this year, Olomu expressed optimism of surpassing the N2.2trillion target for the Command.
He said, “ we are hopeful of meeting and even surpassing our target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds down.”
To ensure an efficient trade facilitation, he said that the Command is working on migrating from the old system to a new system.
According to him, “Furthermore, in line with the Federal Government agenda of Ease of Doing Business, the command operates on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay. We also have an intra government working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies. Equally, we have a wider customs-stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to customs alone are looked into and addressed as and when due.”
“It is noteworthy to state that just last week, the command facilitated the first shipment of cargo to Kenya under the AfCFTA regime.”
He disclosed that based on the instruction of the
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Command has handed over six containers of pharmaceutical and controlled products to NAFDAC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He explained that this was in line with the inter-agency collaboration between the Customs Service and other sister organisations.
He said, “As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing the import and export of cargo that could undermine their well-being and security”. He said that these medical importations have expired, while others were not evaluated by NAFDAC in what could be dangerous to health if consumed.
He further explained that the content of the containers contravenes the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (CET) and section 233 of the NCS Act 2023, adding that the same “contents are unapproved dosage of tramadol, cough syrup with codeine, injections and more”.
He also disclosed that the Command recorded 36 seizures of Tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, used clothings, frozen poultry product, and other controlled substances valued at over N1.5 bn.
He warned, “Let me remind all our port users that every consignment passing through the NCS in this port will be subjected to thorough examination using scanners and physical means when necessary.
“We shall continue to detect false declarations, concealment, under valuation and other unethical practices aimed at evading duties, short changing the government and exposing citizens to unsafe products.”
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