. Collects over N1.8 trn, Seizes 36 Assorted Items Worth N1.5bn In 10 Months
By Shola Fadeyi
In spite of the fact that the volume of imports into Nigeria , even through the Apapa Port has been on the decline in recent times , strong indications have however emerged that the Apapa Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) would still meet and exceed its 2025 revenue target of N2.2 trillion.
This is sequel to the fact that, it has already collected a sum of N1,875,362,369,214.4 in 10 months of 2024, surpassing the N931,123,998, 231.88 revenue it generated in 2023 by 101 per cent .
The Controller of the Apapa Command of the Nigerian Customs Service , Comptroller Babatunde Olomu gave this assurance in Lagos on Monday, while addressing the Media , while he also revealed that the Command was able to collect in the month of October ,2024 , the highest monthly revenue of N264,455,587,792.56 in the history of the Command.
The remarkable revenue collection of the Command, was however said to be due to the capacity of Comptroller Olomu to put in place effective revenue collection machinery, block revenue leakages , the fact that the Command increased its level of engagement with its critical stakeholders, its practice of releasing cargoes on Saturday and Sunday and its leverage on modern technology for its operations.
For instance, Olomu said the Customs is driving a modern and paperless system , while the Command specifically is gearing up to migrate from an old system to a new system , even when it is maximizing what it has presently.
He disclosed that the Command has keyed into the AEO and advanced ruling modern technology to ensure seamless movements of both import and export cargoes.
Comptroller Olomu said in adherence with the Federal Government ease of doing business , the Command operates on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers takes delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delays , while it also has an intra government working system ,where all government agencies work as a team without compromising the mandate of the respective agencies.
The Comptroller also pointed out that the Command has a wider stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to Customs alone are looked into and addressed as at when due.
He revealed that the Command , between January and October 2024, has also facilitated the seizure of 36 various items, ranging from used clothings , tramadol, frozen products, unregistered pharamaceuticals among others, worth N1.5 billion in Duty Paid Value(DPV).
At the event , as part of the working arrangement between the Customs and with the approval of the Customs CG, Wale Adeniyi, Olomu on behalf of the Command also handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food , Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC), six containers carrying falsely declared unwholesome pharmaceuticals.
Olomu said the content of the container contravenes schedule three of the CET and section 233 of the NCS Act 2023 ,adding that some of the contemts inclide unapproved dosage of tramadol, cough syrup with codeine , injections and more.
He said under his watch , stakeholders conmpliance level has increased, adding that it is a testament to the regular interractions the Command has been having, in adherence to the directive of the Customs CG.
Olomu assured that every container passing through the NCS would be subjected to thorough examination, using scanners and physical means when necessary, pledging that the Command would continue to detect false declarations , concealment , and other unethical means , aimed at evading duties , short changing the government and exposing the citizens to unsafe products.
