- The achievements recorded by the command has earned us remarkable letters of recommendation by the Comptroller-General of Customs. This has further strengthened our drive to sustain the tempo and up the ante in discharging our responsibilities-Yusuf Malanta.
By Silas Onuoha
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Command, on Thursday informed that it generated over N264.5 billion as revenue collected in the first quarter of 2022.
The Customs Area Controller, Compt. Malanta Yususf, today in a press briefing, said the amount collected represented a 65.7 percent increase when compared to N159 billion the command collected in the same period under review in 2021.
His words.
“This amount collected(N264,536,201,293.71) shows a significant increase of N104 billion as against 159 billion naira collected in the corresponding months of the year 2021, representing 65.7% increase in revenue collection.”
Comptroller Malanta attributed the increase in revenue to the improved service through the IT platforms, which he said helped blocking revenue leakages, and sustaining the level of compliance by the importers and other stakeholders in the cargo clearance value chain.
Speaking on exports, Compt. Yusuf said, the Command recorded exportation of agricultural goods, mineral resources, steel and more.
He informed. “For the first quarter of the year 2022, the Command recorded exports to the tune of over N34 billion, and additional cargoes with Free on Board value of over $87 million USD, a, significant increase, compared to what it did in the year 2021.
“The export report indicates that goods worth thirty-four billion, seventy two million, eight hundred and sixty-nine thousand, seven hundred and ninety-nine naira (N34,072,869,799.00), with Free On Board (FOB) value of $87.992,356.10 million US dollars were exported as against N30.2 billion, which is equivalent to FOB value of $82.1 million US dollars between the months of Jan-Mar 2021.”
Anti-Smuggling Operations. According to the CAC Yusuf Malanta, the 46 seizures made within the period under review had duty paid value of over 1 billion.
“The enforcement unit has been strengthened through strict monitoring, enhanced collaboration and sharing of credible intelligence with relevant government agencies to suppress smuggling activities to its barest minimum.
“The command recorded 46 seizures of various items with a duty paid value of one billion, one hundred and forty-two million, eight hundred and seventy six thousand, six hundred- and six-naira (N1,142,876,606.00) as against 28 seizures made in the corresponding months of the year 2021.”
The seized items includes “unregistered medicaments such as tramadol and codeine syrup, unprocessed wood, used clothing, and footwear, foreign parboiled rice and other sundry items that fall under prohibition list.”
Adding that the items contravenes sections 46 / 47 of Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004
Appreciating the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) his management team the CAC said “. The achievements recorded by the command has earned us remarkable letters of recommendation by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and his management team. This has further strengthened our drive to sustain the tempo and up the ante in discharging our responsibilities “.
