Apapa Customs takes the lead in revenue collection for FG
*Rakes in N110.2billion in first quarter of 2020
By Silas Onuoha:
Apparently, the Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service is taking the lead in revenue collection for the Federal Government.
This was seen in the records presented by the Command from January to March 2020.
The Command generated over N110.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020, despite the challenges and slow economic activities in the country this period.
Not even the outbreak of deadly coronavirus ravaging the whole world has deterred officers of Apapa Command from carrying out their statutory functions.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Abba-Kura, disclosed through the Public Relations Officer, PRO, Nkeiruka Nwala, that the Command remains committed always.
She said, “The year 2020 is surrounded with lots of challenges globally. Nigeria is not isolated from these challenges, as critical sectors of the economy are adversely affected.
“However, to us in Nigeria Customs Service, and in particular, the Apapa Area Command we remain resolute at ensuring that we collect the much needed revenue for the Federal Government. Also to ensure safety and well being of the citizenry by curtailing smuggling to its barest minimum, while facilitating legitimate import and export trades”.
On Revenue collection, she said, “At the height of these challenges, the Apapa Command was able to beat its records of the past two years, that is 2018 and 2019 respectively by a huge margin.
“While the Command collected N81.7 billion in the first quarter of 2018, in the corresponding period of 2019 the Command recorded an appreciable increase in revenue to N94.7 billion. Interestingly, in the first quarter of 2020, the Command collected a huge sum of N110.2 billion, indicating an appreciable increase of over N15.4 billion, when compared to the corresponding period of 2019”.
She added, “This huge increase in revenue collection was a product of so many factors, including strict application of import guidelines, increased level of compliance by stakeholders and our openness to address all complaints from the part of importers promptly amongst other measures.”
She emphasised, “Accordingly, the CAC wishes to use this medium to remind our esteemed stakeholders that in line with the Presidential directives, the Apapa Port remains opened and our officers are on ground discharging their functions of collecting revenue and securing the nation seaports against influx of prohibited goods.
“The CAC further called on importers to use this opportunity and evacuate their consignments before normal activities resume in the port”.
