Apapa Customs realises N288.6bn .Sustains high revenue profile in 2017

Apapa Customs realises N288.6bn

 .Sustains high revenue profile in 2017

By Silas Onuoha

The Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has realised N288.6billion from January to October, 2017. Apapa, which is the premier port in the country continued to sustain its record in high revenue collection in the last 10 months.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command, Nwala Ijeoma (ASCI), disclosed the revenue figures to Financial Business & Maritime News, saying that the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa, Comptroller Musa Jibrin has increased the tempo of activities in the Command to enhance more revenue for government and trade facilitation in line with global best practice.

She pointed out, “A breakdown of our revenue profile this year shows that the Command collected N25.9 billion, N24.7billion and N26.7billion  for the months of January, February and March 2017. Also, the Command through its new strategies of revenue generation, raked in N25.1billion, N33.6billion and N29.4billion  for the months of April, May and June 2017.  While we realised N30.9 billion, N32.1 billion, N28billion and 31.8billion for the months of July, August, September and October 2017 economic year”.

Comparatively, the Command in the corresponding period in 2016 collected N244billion. This implies that the Command recorded an increased revenue collection of N44.6billion.”

Speaking further, the PRO explained,  “The huge increase in revenue collection could be attributed to the dynamic and sterling leadership prowess of Comptroller Musa, who firmly insists on, and maintains the implementation of all strategies as well as blueprints designed by the Command to block all revenue leakages, while enhancing trade facilitation and security”.

She went on, “The Command continues to engage in painstaking and diligent scrutinisation of all documents, insistence on thorough 100percent examination of profiled containers that need same. Apapa Command ensures implementation of the new Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business and continuous stakeholders engagement for collaboration, interfacing and robust synergy among all government agencies as well as stakeholders involved in cargo clearance trade chain at the ports. This is seen in the improved compliance level, honest declaration, integrity and transparency recorded by the Command”.

“It is also worthy of note that the newly created platform for Heads of security/government agencies in the ports  had series of meetings, which led to prompt resolution of emerging challenges at Apapa ports, especially in the areas of security and improved vehicular movement along Apapa road (bad roads not withstanding)”.

“Also, at Apapa Command, trade facilitation is given serious attention, even as the CAC and officers are carrying out all operations in line with the change mantra of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Hameed Ali and his management team. In the same vein, all patriotic members of the ports community are assured of a friendly atmosphere, as they ensure total compliance with all government fiscal policies on maritime trade”.