Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Apapa Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday disclosed that it collected N522.4billion revenue between January to June 2022.
Addressing newsmen on Friday the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf said that the mid-year scorecard covered the command’s operations in the areas of import/export trade, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation.
He said the amount collected represented an increase of 42.5 per cent when compared with the revenue collected in 2021.
“This shows a significant increase of N156 billion as against N366.5 billion Naira collected in the corresponding months of the year 2021, representing 42.5% increase in revenue collection.”
He attributed the result to officers’ resilience and dedication to duty and sustenance of the importers/exporters compliance level in the cargo clearance value chain.
On export performance, the CAC said the Command recorded a boom in export of non-oil commodities export with about 2.5 million metric tonnes, which is above the 540 metric tonnes recorded in 2021.
He said “The Free on Board (FOB) value for the exported items also rose from $1.6 million in the year 2021 to $138 million in 2022.”
According to the CAC, the items exported include steel bars, agricultural and mineral products amongst others.”
He noted that the Federal Government’s policy and export incentive schemes as having played vital roles in boosting export trade in Nigeria.
On the Command’s anti-smuggling scorecard for the period under review, Comptroller Yusuf said: “Our anti-smuggling operation is guided by the Federal Government Import and Export prohibition lists, as well as other government fiscal policies as directed.
“For the period under review, we have managed to curb the smuggling of dangerous items, resulting in the seizure of 83 containers with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N8.3 billion.”
Some of the seized items include: 32 containers of processed/unprocessed wood; five containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals; 18 containers of used clothing/shoes; 12 containers of foreign parboiled rice; seven containers of vegetable oil; three containers of tomato paste, and 1x20ft container laden with 150 cartons of tramadol.
He noted that 21 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures this is even as he said a suspect has been arrested in the recent seizure of 1x20ft container of tramadol and he is currently undergoing interrogation/investigation.”
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He also said that “To further strengthen existing relationship between relevant government agencies in the port, the Command had recently handed over 2x20ft containers; No. SUDU 7774749 and UETU2798479 laden with 150 cartons of tramadol.
While 21 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures made, the Controller said: “a suspect has been arrested in the recent seizure of 1x20ft container of tramadol and he is currently undergoing interrogation/investigation.”
“We can’t operate the scanners while the rail construction work is in progress because the radioactive activity will pose health threats to the workers.
“These scanners have already been synchronised with the current platform of the NCS which is the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II. The scanners in Onne and Tin Can Island are working,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that with the level of cooperation from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the intervention of the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki; within the next two months Apapa scanners would be deployed and utilised.
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