Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has recorded an increase of 101% revenue in the last 10 months, when compared with last year’s figures.
The yet to beat revenue collection of N1.875 trillion from January to October 2024, according to the Command’s Area Comptroller, Mr. Babatunde Olomu, signified an increase to last year’s generated revenue figures.
The CAC in a press briefing, disclosed that the 2024 revenue over doubled the N931.1 billion collected in the same period in 2023, reflecting a 101% increase.
Comptr. Olomu emphasized that October revenue collection was the highest monthly collection in the history of Apapa Customs Command, as the Command generated two hundred and sixty-four billion, four hundred and fifty-five million, five hundred and eighty-seven thousand, seven hundred and ninety-two naira, fifty-six kobo (N264,455,587,792.56).
Irrespective of the decline in trade volume, Comptr. Olomu attributed the impressive revenue results to the implementation of advanced trade facilitation tools such as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme and Advanced Ruling.
He was of the view that these tools have enhanced the efficiency of both import and export cargo movement through the port.
According to CAC Olomu: “In line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative, our command now operates on weekends to enable faster clearance and collection of cargoes,”
He in the meantime, emphasized on the collaborative, intra-governmental working system that unites various agencies within the port, by ensuring seamless operations while maintaining their individual mandates.
Speaking on the Command’s achievement under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, Comptr. Olomu disclosed that the Command facilitated its first cargo shipment to Kenya last week, to further boost trade relations within Africa.
The CAC on anti-smuggling efforts, reported that Apapa Customs’ Command, has made 36 significant seizures from January to October, including six containers with unwholesome and falsely declared pharmaceutical items.
According to the Comptroller, the seized items, which include: expired medications, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and controlled substances like: codeine-based cough syrups and high-dose tramadol, were handed over to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
The CAC further said: “These seizures underscored our commitment to protecting Nigerians from harmful imports.
“These controlled substances contravene the Common External Tariff (CET) provisions and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. Our actions reflects on our duty to prevent unapproved goods from entering the market.” Comptr. Olomu stated.
He enumerated on the total value of seized items, which include: frozen poultry products, used clothing, and other contraband, estimated at over N1.5 billion.
Comptroller Olomu, who commended sister government agencies and private sector partners for their contributions, which according to him, have been instrumental in achieving the results.
He was optimistic that the continued inter-agency collaboration would help the Command maintain high levels of compliance and success.
The Area Comptr. while expressing his feelings said: “We owe much of today’s success to our partners, whose support has helped us achieve these record-breaking results.”
The CAC further affirmed that Apapa Customs Command remains focused on meeting and surpassing its revenue target, while continuing to facilitate trade and protect the Nigerian citizens and economy from harmful imports of illicit items in the country.
