The Apapa Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, has said that it would soon introduce the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS)11 training for its officers on how to fully block all revenue leakages.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Jibrin Musa disclosed this yesterday while displaying four containers of Tramadol drugs imported from India.
He said that when the NICIS software is fully deployed at the command, it will not only increase the revenue turnout of the command, but will also increase the compliance level.
He also called on stakeholders to embrace the new development as it will provide more opportunity for seamless cargo clearance.
"Let me use this opportunity to inform our teaming stakeholders that NICIS 11 training which was flagged off in other commands of the service will soon take off and the software is about to be deployed into the Apapa area command. The idea is by the time the software become fully operational, we would have blocked almost all revenue leakages thereby increasing not only our revenue profile but compliance level. I thereby call on stakeholders who operate within the larger value chain to fully embrace the new application which is faster, more efficient, all encompassing and will provide opportunity for seamless cargo clearance"
Speaking on the seized drugs, Comptroller Jibrin, said the containers of Tramadol, a controlled and regulated drug in Nigeria, were imported by one Villa Gold Pharmacy from India .
Musa said the containers were intercepted based on intelligence reports from the Customs Intelligent Unit ( CIU ) Apapa command on 6th of February 2018.
Giving a breakdown of the seized containers, Jibrin said “The container No; MRSU 3637149 contained 936 cartons of tramadol Hydrochoride tablet (225MG) and 56 cartons of Collstop Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules (4MG).
“Another container No; MRKU 6196764 contained 368 cartons of tramadol capsules BP (120MG), 192 cartons of tramadol capsules (250mg) and 160 cartons of Dobumol Anagestic.
“Third container No, MRSU 3516384 contained 554 cartons of tramadol capsules BP (120mg), and 176 cartons of Col-cap.
“The forth container No MRKU 6058282 containing 200 cartons of tramadol (225mg), 330 cartons of Ibramol, 198 cartons Col-Caps (4mg) and 453 cartons of Rally Extral (50mg).
“The container was imported by Villa Gold Pharmacy from India,“ Musa said.
The total duty paid value of the 4x 40ft containers was one hundred and Ten Million, Sixteen Thousand five hundred and twenty four naira only (N110, 016, 524.00).
The controller said that a suspect was apprehended along with the seizure and had been granted administrative bail while investigation was ongoing.
According to the Apapa Customs boss, the drugs consignment would aggravate the already tense situation if it finds its ways into the country.
He said that the command generated N31.01 billion in January 2018 compared to the N25.95 billion it generated in the corresponding period of 2017.
“It is worthy to note that the annual target for the Apapa Area Command in 2018 is N462 billion and N35.5 billion it is expected to generate on monthly basis,” he said.
He said that the command would soon start the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System training to block revenue leakages and increase the compliance level.
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