Apapa Customs records 143% growth in revenue for 1st half, generates remarkable N1trllion

…Laments sharp decline in cargo import at Apapa port

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

It’s Noteworthy that these virtues of improved customs-community relations, attendant ease of doing business, prevention of revenue losses and closer interactions with sister government agencies has yielded great result as the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) has announced revenue generation of N1,023,663,842,255.63 in the first six months of 2024.

This unrivaled revenue record was achieved despite sharp decline in cargo importation at the Apapa port.

According to the Controller of the command, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, the command has generated N601,281,675,877.17 higher than the N421,382,166,378.46k generated within the same period of the year spanned January to June 2023 which has represented 143per cent increase.
On the freely used maxim of “open door policy” he said he does not have any door closed at all, “To me, there is literally no door at all if you want to access my office. My office is open for everyone to discuss anything that will facilitate legitimate trade and promote government interest at all times, including receiving information on suspected smuggling activities.
“Since assuming office on May 6, 2024, the thrust of my leadership has been robust intelligence gathering for enhanced revenue collection. We are also not leaving anything to chance for economic saboteurs as our nonintrusive inspection (NII) regime is fully in place where scanners are deployed for cargo examination with support of physical examination where and when necessary.”
The controller however reeled out his report partly as thus:
“Revenue: For the first half of 2024, that is between January-June, the command generated a total of One trillion, twenty-three billion, six hundred and sixty-three million, eight hundred and forty-two thousand, two hundred- and fifty-five-naira, sixty-three kobo(N1,023,663,842,255.63) This shows an increase of 143% above the figures of N421,382,166,378.46k collected in the corresponding period in 2023. Whereas this collection is coming

despite a sharp reduction in the volume of trade, it is necessary to note that extra measures have been put in place to prevent losses of government revenue. Recalled how on assumption of duty he set up a revenue recovery committee of seasoned and dedicated officers mandated to carry out more detailed look into areas of leakages, especially in bonded terminals under Apapa Command.
On trade facilitation, he started, “We are applying a blend of intelligence with community relations for better awareness of our operating environment to achieve greater trade facilitation and fight criminality.
I have a team of dedicated officers charged with the responsibility of addressing all complaints or disputes within record time before escalation to my office for prompt action.”

On anti- smuggling, he stated that Within this six months period, the command made seizures of eleven (11) containers comprising of prohibited items such as expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals, footwears, used clothing, armored cables, frozen poultry / products etc., with a Duty Paid Value of Four hundred and twenty-four million, one hundred and five thousand, nine hundred and seventy-five naira (N424,105,975.00) as against 42 seizures with a DPV of NI.4 billion made in the corresponding period in 2023.

“Members of the press, it is pertinent to mention that just last week, we uncovered a large quantity of expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals in 3x40ft container numbers TCKU 6928184, MRKU 4422733, MRSU 5550243, and another 3x40ft container nos. MNBU 3934925, MEDU 9107559 and MEDU 9752980 loaded with seven thousand five hundred and eighty (7,580) cartons of frozen poultry products unfit for human consumption, which is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET), These importations violate section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Let me state that the harmful effects of fake and unregistered pharmaceutical products on citizens are unquantifiable and as a responsible service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing them from being exposed to this dangerous importation.
In light of the above, I want to use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion and other forms of criminality frowned upon by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other extant laws, that Apapa command is poised to nip illicit importation in the bud.
Consequently, in line with the CGC zero tolerance for smuggling, I have reformed the command way of treating transires by ensuring more meticulous management of cargoes moving from the mother port to bonded terminals.
This has become necessary to prevent a situation where smugglers attempt to perpetuate illegalities in bonded terminals.
To sustain this tempo, no cargo is allowed to exit from our control without thorough inspection using the scanner. We shall not compromise on this as we will keep making seizures, detention and arrests where necessary to protect the national economy and prevent Nigerians from exposure to dangerous or unwholesome products like illicit drugs.

On Relationship with sister agencies, Dr Olomu has to say, “We are in close touch with sister government agencies working like a team with shared responsibilities. I want to commend the Nigeria Police, Department of State Service (DSS), NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON, NIS, NAQS, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and others for their support so far. We made progress together and will continue to collaborate in the national interest.
Comptroller Olomu expressed his profound gratitude to the Comptroller -General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his Management team for providing them the needed support and leadership not failing to thumb up the men and officers of his command for their zest and sagacity which has indeed carried them through.