Apapa Customs Records N1. 02 Trillion Revenue in 2022
Amidst declining trade occasioned by fluctuation in the exchange rate and a sharp drop in the purchasing power of the consumers, Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) successfully recorded an unprecedented feat of one trillion, twenty–two billion, five hundred and thirty million, five hundred and twenty-three thousand, six hundred and ninety-nine naira, four kobo revenue for the year 2022.
The Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Malanta Ibrahim Yusuf made this known at a press briefing organised on Thursday to review the activities of the Command in 2022. The Comptroller noted that the 2022 revenue figure is 16.07% higher than N870,388,340,650 collected in 2021.
On export trade, the Comptroller disclosed that the command was able to record a total of $68.5 million Free On Board (FOB) value which is equivalent to N28.2 billion of non-oil commodities and a total tonnage of 6.4 million Metric tonnes exported through Apapa Port. All these are in line with the Federal Government’s diversification of the economy in non-oil export.
The Customs Chief went further that the collaboration with other agencies of government has greatly enhanced productivity of the Command.
“Record shows that practical involvement of agencies, inter-agency collaboration, networking, incidence profiling, information gathering/processing and experience shared has resulted to a lot of interception of life threatening import of dangerous drugs and various prohibited items.
“Despite the fact that the year 2022 was characterised by several challenges in the economic and trade supply chain, the command was able to make some laudable achievements using technology-driven initiatives to maximise revenue collection, enforcement of anti-smuggling operations, export promotion and synergy with notable stakeholders in the industry,” he said.
However, on anti-smuggling, in the year under review, a total number of one hundred and fifty-seven (157) containers with a duty paid value (DPV) of N14.4 billion were seized, as against 102 containers with DPV of N31.8 billion seized in the year 2021.
Items seized by the Command include codeine syrup, foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, processed/unprocessed wood, used clothing, etc, and 60 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures.
On the newly unveiled multipurpose auditorium, Comptroller Yusuf said the auditorium was the initiative of the stakeholders who believed there should be a befitting place to hold stakeholders’ meetings.
He said the multi-purpose auditorium was wholly financed by the multi-national companies plying their trade at the Apapa command such as Dangote Group, Bua, Flour Mills, and the rest. Malanta said he dedicated the auditorium, which he called the CGC auditorium, to the stakeholders who undertook to sponsor the project.
“CGC auditorium was an initiative of the stakeholders who believed there was the need to have a conducive atmosphere to interact and hold stakeholders’ meetings. >>>Nigeria Customs Generates N188.6 bln at Onne Port
“We appreciate your contributions and commitment towards the realization of this laudable project. It is an ideal place for you all and I dedicate it to all the stakeholders where everyone will enjoy, ” Comptroller Yusuf said excitedly
Comptroller Malanta thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd) and his management team for robust support throughout the year, even as he encouraged freight agents to pay accurate duty and obey extant import and export guidelines without violating the prohibition lists.
Stakeholders at the event which was held at the recently unveiled multipurpose auditorium of the command also witnessed the decoration of newly promoted customs officers. # Apapa Customs Records N1. 02 Trillion Revenue in 2022.
Story by: ZAINAB JUNAID
