Apapa Customs Command collects N502bn, records increased trade compliance
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday disclosed that it collected a total of N502 billion from January 2023 to date, while it made 16 seizures worth a duty paid value of N1.4 billion within the same period.
Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Auwal Baba Mohammed, who described the revenue collection and seizures made as fallouts of increased compliance, urged officers to redouble their effort in revenue collection, trade facilitating and strict enforcement of anti-smuggling activities.
He said that the Command made a collection of N9.2b on July 20, 2023, which was described as the highest daily collection it ever achieved in its existence since the port was established; this is as contained in a statement on Tuesday by Spokesman of the Command, CSC A. Usman.
The Command said that within the period in review, the Command seized prohibited drugs, used tyres, rice, vegetable oil, and sundry items.
It also disclosed that two pistols were seized inside one groupage cargo, which led to the arrest of a suspect while the matter is undergoing investigation.
On trade facilitation, the Command said it has achieved increased level of compliance by importers, exporters and their agents through a deliberate system of profiling and manifest tracking, using technology.
The statement reads in part that “The Command under the leadership of Compt. AB Mohammed has achieved an increased level of compliance by importers, exporters, and their agents through deliberate system profiling and manifest tracking.
“Under the CAC’s direct supervision, dedicated officers of the command are using the system profiling yardstick to gauge the integrity levels of importers and consignees.
“This has helped in treating traders in line with their previous transaction records, which is reassuring that compliance pays through time saving and cost efficiency.
The Controller urged all port users to be complaint and advised that compliant traders are shielded from the risk of getting their consignments seized; imposition of penalties after demand notices and possible arrests for prosecution as the case may require.”
