Efforts are on top gear by the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Port Command to achieve its annual revenue target of N2.2 Trillion before its expected month of December, 2024.
According to a press release made available to the media by the Command’s CPRO, CSC Usman Abubakar, the Command has achieved a revenue collection of N2.01tr as at November 19, 2024.
The disclosure according to the press release was made by the CAC of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, while addressing officers and men during a parade on Wednesday, November 20th, 2024.
The Comptroller hinted that the Command aims at achieving its N2.2tr target for this year by the end of this month ahead of December, 2024.
Comptr. Olomu said the command is drawing inspiration from the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who announced the total collection of N5.07tr by the service on Tuesday at the just concluded CGC Conference in Abuja.
According to Comptr. Olomu: “Apapa Port Command plays a critical role in the overall performance of the service nationwide. The Command contributed 40% (forty percent) of the N5.07tr. total target of the service that has been met so far, which underscores the high expectations and responsibility on the command.”
The Area Comptroller further urged officers to align with the outstanding examples set by CGC Adeniyi in revenue collection, trade facilitation, uncompromising enforcement and sustained stakeholders engagement in the service and national interest.
He, in the meantime, charged the officers to keep the trajectory of good revenue and enforcement records sustained and ensure that seizures made from smugglers should be backed with suspects for prosecution.
He was of the view that arresting smugglers with their wares would cause greater impact in the fight against smuggling.
While using the opportunity of the parade to update the officers on important highlights from the CGC Conference.
Comptr. Olomu urged them to imbibe the spirit and letter of the theme, which was “Engaging Traditional and New Partners With Purpose.”
He said the NCS 2024 CGC Conference theme aligns with that of the World Customs Organisation, which seeks to leverage on achievable gains from cordial relationships across organisations and individuals to achieve Customs goals.
The CAC listed some outcomes from the conference which include: sustenance of diligent import and export cargo examination with the deployment of hundred percent physical examination, where necessary; granting of access to enforcement unit officers to view the Nigetia Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) platform; and avoidance of indiscriminate intervention alerts, which makes service personnel appear to be working at cross purposes.
According to CAC Olomu, NCS is one and should operate and be seen as one.
Other fallouts from the CGC Conference announced by the Area Comptroller are the banning of commercial activities within Customs formations and premises.
Comptr. Olomu listed such activities like: the engagement of Point of Sales (PoS) operators around Customs offices, and involvement of Customs officers in clearing jobs, that is doubling as licensed agents, which conflict with their official mandates.
Other messages cascaded from the 2024 CGC Conference announced by Comptroller Olomu include: compulsory and routine medical checks for all officers; instituting rewards and honouring outstanding officers for their productivity; development of inter zonal games being put together by the service Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC); fully automation of transire by first quarter of 2025 and the expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) and Advance Ruling(AR) scheme.
Comptr. Olomu further announced that the Command is planning an award night for deserving officers and stakeholders that have contributed to it’s success in 2024.
He also gave plaques of award to some units and individuals for excellent discharge of their functions.
The Compliance Unit was honoured for the recovery of over N2b in the last three months, as well as efforts of the Revenue Recovery Unit that also prevented the loss of N3b within the last three months was also recognised.
Assistant Comptroller (AC) M. Samad received an award from the CAC for due diligence and regular detection of under valuation, while an Inspector of Customs, Adamu Bashir was also honoured as best dressed and punctual officer by the Customs Area Comptroller.
