There is the possibility of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generates over N1.5 trillion at the end of 2022.
The Customs Area Controller, Compt. Malanta Ibrahim Yusuf gave the hint in Lagos, while presenting a half-year record of activities.
Yusuf disclosed further that the command generated a total sum of N522.4 billion between January and June, 2022.
From the statistical analysis carried out by NewsBeatng, it was a margin that represents 42.5 percent of revenue realized in the corresponding period of 2021.
The Area Controller explained that the achievement was made possible following officers’ resilience and determination to ensure that identified revenue leakages were effectively plugged, adding ” The sustained level of compliance to legitimate rules and regulations by importers and stakeholders in the clearance value chain also contributed to make this possible”.
Speaking on non-oil export, Yusuf said that the command recorded a boom in the exportation of non-oil commodities in the first half of the year 2022.
He disclosed that there was a surge in non-oil export received at the command which rose to 2.5 million metric tonnes above the 540 metric tonnes recorded in the first six months of 2021.
Yusuf announced that the Free on Board (FOB) value for the exported items rose from $1.6 million in 2021 to $138 million in 2022.
He revealed that the exported items include steel bars, agricultural, and mineral products, among others.
He commended the Federal Government policy and export incentive schemes that have played vital roles in boosting export trade in Nigeria
On anti-smuggling, Yusuf explained that the command’s operation is guided by the Federal Government’s Import and Export prohibition lists, as well as other government policies.
According to him, the command has reasonably curb the smuggling of dangerous items, resulting in the seizures of 83 containers with a duty paid value of N8.3 billion.
The controller gave a breakdown of some of the seized items which include 32 containers of processed/unprocessed wood, 18 containers of used clothing/shoes, 12 containers of foreign parboiled rice, seven containers of vegetable oil, and three containers of Tomato Paste, plus 1x20ft container laden with 150 cartons of tramadol.
He disclosed that 21 suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures.
According to him, a suspect has been arrested in the recent seizure of 1x20ft container of tramadol and he is currently undergoing interrogation/investigation.
He stated that the command had recently handed over 2x20ft containers with no SUDU 7774749 and UETU2798479 laden with 150 cartons of illicit hard drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to further strengthen the existing relationship between relevant government agencies in the port.
