By Shola Fadeyi
A total sum of N1,022,530,523,699.4 was generated as revenue by the Apapa Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) , while it impounded assorted goods worth N14.4 billion in Duty Paid Value(DPV) as well as arrested 60 suspects in connection with the seizures in 2022,
The Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta confirmed the figures while giving an account of the Command’s scorecard for 2022.
According to him , the amount recorded during the period represents an increase of 16.07 per cent over N870,388,340,650.65 collected in 2021.
He said the Command was able to record the achievements, using technology to maximize its revenue collection, enforce anti-smuggling operations, promoted exports despite the unfriendly environment , which prevailed during the period.
Malanta pointed out that the revenue feat was made possible because of the Command’s resilience in blocking revenue leakages and ensuring that all unpaid declarations and unutilized , Pre- Arrival Assessment Report( PAARS) were traced and accounted to the federal government coffers.
The Controller stated that the central concern of the Customs management is to deploy technology to automate its processes and procedures to maintain a feat between trade facilitation, revenue generation and security of the nation
He said as a lead agency in trade facilitation, the Command is constantly engaged in reinventing its strategy and share its vision with other agencies in the port, through connectivity and joint one-stop boarding of vessels and examination of cargo.
In the area of anti- smuggling , he said the Command intensified its anti-smuggling operations through leveraging on technological infrastructure to ensure that illicit trade which poses threat to the national security and wellbeing of the society were detected and controlled from finding their way to the society.
According to him , a total of 157 containers with a duty paid value (DPV) of N14.4 billion were seized during the period , as against 102 containers with DPV of N31.8 billion seized in the year 2021.
He said fake and prohibited drugs without necessary NAFDAC certification and overdose drugs of Tramadol top the list of seizures made last year, while others include codesse syrup, foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil ,processed/unprocessed wood, used clothing , among others.
Malanta stated that the 60 suspects that were arrested in connection with some of the seizures are at various stages of investigation and prosecution by other agencies of government , to which the susupects were handed.
He said the Command will remain a no-go area for any form of illegality, as well as warned the perpetrators that the Command will remain resolute at exposing the activities of the suspects , with a view to bringing them to book.
Malanta said in line with the Federal Government’s diversification of the economy in non-oil export, the Command recorded a total of $6.5 million free onboard (FOB) value with a naira equivalent of N28.2 billion of commodities with a total tonnage of 64 million Metric tonnes exported through Apapa port.
He disclosed that the commodities shipped through Apapa Command last year include steel bars, agricultural produce such as hibiscus, sesame seeds, cocoa, cashew nut, ginger, soya beans, and mineral products.
