Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced a remarkable revenue collection of N1,023,663,842,255.63 at the Apapa seaport for the first half of 2024, showcasing a substantial increase from the previous year. This represents a 143% rise compared to the N421,382,166,378.46 collected in the same period of 2023.
The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, on Monday during a press briefing at his command attributed this impressive revenue growth to the introduction of a Revenue Recovery Committee aimed at curbing loopholes, particularly from bonded terminals.
“Upon taking over as Area Controller of Apapa, I set up a revenue recovery committee comprising seasoned and dedicated officers with a mandate to carry out more detailed examinations into areas of leakages, especially in bonded terminals under Apapa Command,” Olomu stated.
He emphasized the importance of combining intelligence with community relations to enhance trade facilitation and combat criminal activities.
“We are applying a blend of intelligence with community relations for better awareness of our operating environment to achieve greater trade facilitation and fight criminality. I have a team of dedicated officers charged with the responsibility of addressing all complaints or disputes within record time before escalation to my office for prompt action,” he added.
In addition to the revenue collection, the Command reported the seizure of 11 containers carrying prohibited items, including expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals, footwear, used clothing, armored cables, and frozen poultry products, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N424,105,975. Notably, last week saw the interception of a substantial quantity of expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals in three 40-foot containers and another three 40-foot containers loaded with 7,580 cartons of frozen poultry products unfit for human consumption.
“Let me state that the harmful effects of fake and unregistered pharmaceutical products on citizens are unquantifiable, and as a responsible Service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing them from being exposed to this dangerous importation,” Olomu remarked.
Olomu also warned perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion, and other criminal activities that the Apapa Command is determined to eliminate illicit importation. He highlighted the reforms in handling transires to ensure more meticulous management of cargoes moving from the mother port to bonded terminals, thereby preventing illegal activities.
The Apapa Customs boss expressed his gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and his management team for their support and leadership. He also commended the officers of the Command and other port stakeholders for their contributions to these achievements.