By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a revenue collection of N1,022,530,523,699.4 in 2022, an increase of 16.07 per cent on the N870.4 billion collected in 2021.
It also facilitated through the Apapa Port the export of 6.4 million metric tonnes of non-oil commodities with a total Free on board (FOB) value of $68.5 million (N28.2 billion).
In a review of the command’s activities in Lagos Thursday, Compt. Yusuf Malanta listed the items exported through Apapa Port last year to include steel bars, agricultural produce such hibiscus, sesame seeds, cocoa, cashew nuts, ginger, soya beans, and mineral products.
He disclosed that though 2022 had several economic and supply chain challenges, including exchange rate fluctuation and drop in consumers’ purchasing power, the command, through technology-driven initiatives, anti-smuggling enforcement, export promotion and synergy with stakeholders, maximised revenue collection and recorded some notable achievements.
“The central concern of this administration is to deploy technology to automate our processes and procedures to maintain a feat in trade facilitation, revenue generation and security of the nation,” he said.
“As part of the command’s trade facilitation initiative, officers have been selected, trained and dedicated to address complaints through dispute resolution and ensure (that) transaction within our systems are monitored with precision and control.”
Meanwhile, he noted that the command, by practical involvement of agencies, inter-agency collaboration, networking, incidence profiling, information gathering/processing and shared experience, was able to intercept many dangerous drugs, life-threating and banned imports.
Through these efforts, the command intercepted a total of 157 containers of contraband items with duty paid value (DPV) of N14.4 billion, up from the 102 containers with DPV of N31.8 billion seized in 2021.
He disclosed that 60 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures in the period, which included codeine syrup, foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, processed/unprocessed wood and used clothing, among others.
While commending the Customs management for the enabling support throughout the year, Malanta urged clearing agents to always abide by extant import and export guidelines in order to enhance trade facilitation.