Apapa Customs boosts government revenue with over N502.9bn

Apapa Customs boosts government revenue with over N502.9bn

…Steps up compliance through system profiling manifest tracking

The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service has collected a whopping sum of N502,987,516,219.26 (approximately N503billion) revenue for the Federal Government,
from January to July, 2023.

The Command also made 16 seizures worth a duty paid value of N1.4 billion within the same period.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Compt Auwal Baba Mohammed, described the revenue collection and seizures made as fallouts of increased compliance.

He urged officers to redouble their efforts in revenue collection, trade facilitating and strict enforcement of anti-smuggling activities.

The Command made a collection of N9.2billion on July 20, 2023. This feat is the highest daily collection it ever achieved in its existence since the port was established.

ANTI SMUGGLING :
The seizures made within the period comprised of prohibited drugs, used tyres, rice, vegetable oil and other items.

The CAC said; “It is noteworthy that the Command made seizure of two pistols inside one groupage cargo. One suspect was arrested and investigation is on-going.

TRADE FACILITATION :
The Command under the leadership of Compt Mohammed, achieved increased level of compliance by importers, exporters and their agents through deliberate system profiling and manifest tracking.

Under the CAC’s direct supervision, dedicated officers of the Command are using the system profiling yardstick to gauge the integrity levels of importers and consignees.

This has helped in treating traders in line with their previous transaction records, which is reassuring that compliance pays through time saving and cost efficiency.

The Area Controller urged all port users to be compliant and advised that compliant traders are shielded from the risk of getting their consignments seized; imposition of penalties after demand notices and possible arrests for prosecution as the case may require.

According to Compt Mohammed, non compliant traders spend more time and money paying for terminal space due to demurrage, as well as higher cost due to penalties.

Compt Mohammed has also raised the level of electronic manifest tracking to accelerate trade facilitation leveraging on available technology.

The CAC described this feat as a masterstroke in the journey towards trade facilitation and ease of doing business.

Also, during recent monthly meeting of Terminal/Unit Heads, Compt Mohammed exhorted all officers to sustain and improve upon the level of discipline the Command has been noted for under his watch.

He characterised discipline as the foundation of good work etiquette, such as punctuality, diligent application of Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 and other noble virtues that align with the laws.

He further stressed that Nigeria has high expectations of NCS and the Service is looking at Apapa Command for its highest collection.

He said, ” As we facilitate trade for compliant traders, let us be wary of the possibility of releasing uncustom goods in error; or in the guise of facilitating trade

“I hereby charge you to do better in the second half of 2023 as the glory for the successes recorded in the first half belongs to all of us” the CAC said.