- Compt. Yusuf (right) displaying the seized tramadol packets
By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Murtala Muhammed Airport Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a revenue collection of N21,362,752,676.44 for the first quarter of 2023.
It also seized 22x225mg packets of tramadol and 12x120mg packets of tramadol imported from India and Pakistan, worth N1.8 billion, following intelligence-driven operations within the airport.
Disclosing this to newsmen in Lagos Wednesday while reviewing the command’s activities for the period, Compt. Muhammed Sanni Yusuf said the revenue figure exceeded the ₦17,513,457,869.20k collected in the same period of 2022 by ₦3,849,294,807.22 (21.97 per cent).
He added that the command also facilitated export trade worth ₦100,937,172.26k, including non-commercial and commercial foods weighing a total of 653 tonnes, with Free On Board (FOB) value of ₦4,812, 780,701.69k.
The area controller listed the command’s revenue activities as comprising import and export of legitimate goods, as well as goods under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
Meanwhile, Yusuf said the drugs would be handed over to the Commander of Narcotics, Airport Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency “to strengthen collaboration in safeguarding our youths from the use of harmful substances which could endanger their lives and the environments.
“We shall intensify efforts in making our communities safer for all of us to live in.”
He further noted that the command has maintained an open-door policy with stakeholders, by which it has resolved many issues of common interest.
He further commended the stakeholders in the clearance value chain for their unwavering support, while encouraging them to brace up for the emerging challenges.
