Mid-Year Report: Apapa Customs Command collects over N522 bn revenue…records 2.5m metric tonnes non-oil commodities export
The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, on Friday disclosed that it collected N522.4 billion as revenue from January to June 2022.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf, told newsmen at a briefing that the mid-year scorecard covered the Command’s operations in the areas of Import/Export trade, Anti-smuggling operations and Trade facilitation.
The Controller 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 in dedication to duty and sustenance of the importers/exporters compliance level in the cargo clearance value chain.
Speaking 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 added that “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 said upheld 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, CAC 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.”
He listed some of the seized items as 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.
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.”
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 illicit hard drugs, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
