Excellent footpath :  Compt Jaiyeoba of Apapa Customs breaks revenue record with N1.172trn collection

Excellent footpath :  Compt Jaiyeoba of Apapa Customs breaks revenue record with N1.172trn collection

The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Compt Babajide Jaiyeoba
and his team are on an excellent footpath in revenue collection for the Federal Government, with a huge N1.172trillion (approximately N1.2trillion) realised in 2023 fiscal year.

This whopping revenue collection is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria Customs Service, that just one Command generated N1.172trillion into the federation account in a year.

This exceptional revenue record by Apapa Command will greatly boost government income-flow for infrastructure development.

Aside revenue collection, the Command also made seizures worth over N22.8billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV) within the same period under review.

According to the CAC : “The Command kept the tempo of improved revenue collection by crossing the N1 trillion mark despite declined trade volume, promoted trade facilitation and sustained its anti-smuggling activities to protect the nation’s economy.

“The N1.172trillion generated in 2023 is over N149.8billion above N1,022,530,523,699 billion realised in 2022, showing 14.6 percent increase.

He added : “In 2023, the Command lived up to its mandate by ensuring enabling trading environment for importers, exporters, shipping companies, terminal operators, bonded warehouse owners and others, whose businesses went through customs control.”

It is worthy of note that under Compt Jaiyeoba’s watch, Apapa Command made N11.3billion daily collection in the month of November 22, 2023 which is the highest daily collection recorded in the history of NCS.

In the same vein, the Command recorded N145billion revenue collection in the month of October 2023, which represented the highest monthly revenue collection by any Customs Command.

More so, in the area of anti-smuggling, within the period under review, the Command made 54 seizures with DPV of N22.8billion as stated above.
These seizures were made due to infractions like contravention of extant import /export prohibition lists, false declaration, unlawful concealment and others.

A breakdown of the seizures comprises of prohibited items such as used clothing, foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil and tomato paste.

Compt Jaiyeoba sounded a note of warning to smugglers and traders involved in any form of illegality that Apapa Port is a no-go area, as any attempt to test their resolve will be met with seizure of their wares, arrest and prosecution of suspects in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.

The CAC since his assumption of office has ensured stronger collaboration with sister government agencies like NPA, Police, NDLEA,NAFDAC,DSS, NAQS, Port Health Service and others in the area.

His words : “We understand the dynamic nature of maritime related crimes and have resolved to keep working together while trying to think ahead of criminal elements, who may want to use Apapa Port. The collaboration has yielded gains in our individual services and ensures Apapa port remains safe for port users”.

The CAC, since assumption of office has ensured that various stakeholders like importers, exporters, licensed Customs agents, freight forwarding operators and other port users are being regularly educated on the need to be compliant at all times. He reiterated that the Command operates an open-door policy where it meets regularly with stakeholders to address matters of common interest.

The dispute resolution, query and amendment seats have been made more active to address the needs and legitimate demands of port users too. The Area Controller also urged compliant traders to keep up their good deeds while advising others to emulate the virtue of honesty, noting that integrity is key to the achievement of 48 hours cargo clearance.