Compt Olomu remains unbeatable : Hits N1.6trillion revenue collection for Apapa Command in Q3

Compt Olomu remains unbeatable : Hits N1.6trillion revenue collection for Apapa Command in Q3
…brings intellectual acuity to bear in trade facilitation

As the economy enters ending of 2024 fiscal year, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi, remains unbeatable and proficient in revenue collection for the Federal Government, with a whopping sum of N1.6 trillion realised in the third quarter of the year.

Comparatively, the N1.6 trillion revenue generated in third quarter of 2024 is far greater than N1.1trillion collected the same period in
year 2023.

Most outstanding are the intellectual acuity, unwavering commitment, hard work and resilience brought to bear
by Compt Olomu and his team in trade facilitation, as well as revenue collection at the premier port.

In a press statement released by the Image Maker of the Command, Usman Abubakar,  Compt Babatunde Olomu, described the feat in revenue collection in 2024 as a fallout of diligence and integrity.  He assured that the Command will continually engage with stakeholders to improve on revenue collection achievement, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling drive.

He identified the N201.8billion collected in July 2024 and N193.9billion in September 2024 as spectacular figures capable of being replicated in the last quarter of the year, beginning from October.

Comptroller Olomu said the various trade facilitation programmes put in place by the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, like advance ruling, time release study and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) are being dutifully implemented for the overall benefit of the nation’s economy.

While commending officers of the Command for the achievement in revenue collection relying on diligent examination and uncompromising interventions through issuance of demand notices, where and when necessary, the Area Controller reiterated the CGC’s zero tolerance for smuggling.

The premier port Command, according to Compt Olomu, shall continually engage all stakeholders to sustain the rising level of compliance, which has resulted in reduced smuggling in the area.

He said the strict monitoring of cargoes, constant profiling of port users, sensitisation of stakeholders, in-house training and retraining of Customs officers jointly contributed to almost zero level of smuggling in recent times.

The Area Controller urged all port users in Apapa to avail themselves of the services of dispute resolution team to resolve all areas of uncertainty, while reassuring licensed Customs agents, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and haulage operators of the Command’s readiness to assist at all times.

He thanked sister government agencies for their support, stating that the Command will always leverage on its relationship with them to share intelligence against criminal elements, do joint examinations in line with extant standard operating procedures (SOPs) and promote compliance at all times.

His words :  “Our revenue collection is good but I know we can do better with more impressive results in the last quarter of 2024. I want to thank our compliant stakeholders for their cooperation in supporting us to achieve this level of collection.

” Reduced smuggling activities is a testament to affirm the compliance we are celebrating. I can say the best is yet to come. We are not losing guard. Our tempo of vigilance is airtight, which attests to our capacity to detect smuggling and make seizures.

” As we do trade facilitation, our anti smuggling activities are done side by side leveraging on our non intrusive technology for cargo scanning and physical examination when necessary. Let me also state that these standards and procedures are strictly adhered to in all bonded terminals under our control, ” Comptroller Olomu said.

Recall that Apapa Command under the leadership of Compt Olomu has performed creditably in revenue collection for economic growth and trade facilitation.