Apapa Customs Hits Over N246.5 Billion in First Quarter Of 2022 

At the end of the first quarter of 2022, the flagship of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Apapa Area Command of has posted a whopping sum N264.5 billion as revenue generated within the period.

The Customs Area Controller of the command, Compt. Yusuf  Malanta while reviewing the first quarter operations of the command said the amount collected represented a 65.7 per cent increase when compared to N159 billion generated in the same period in 2021.

He attributed the increase in revenue to improved service through the information technology (IT) platforms, which he said helped to block revenue leakages, and sustain the level of compliance by importers and other stakeholders in the cargo clearance value chain.

The command, within the same period also performed well in the area of exports as the command recorded export of agricultural goods, mineral resources, steel and more to the tune of over N34 billion, and additional cargoes with Free-on-Board (FoB) value of over $87 million, compared to N30.2 billion, and FOB value of $82.1 million recorded in 2021.

While reacting to the performance by the command, a Senior Officer who referred anonymity said the Officers and Men of the Command have no choice but to put up their best in performing their duty, as the Yusuf Malanta led Management has made the working environment more conducive to operate optimally, in his words "Just take a very good look at this office, right from the gate you will know that there is something different from what we used to have here, the neatness of the place to the provision of proper office equipments and working tools, No Officer I repeat No Officer that will not want to do his best to make his unit succeed".

In the area of Anti-Smuggling operations, the Controller said, “The Enforcement Unit has been strengthened through strict monitoring, enhanced collaboration and sharing of credible intelligence with relevant government agencies to suppress smuggling activities to its barest minimum".

These collaborations and credible intelligence according to Compt. Yusuf made it possible for the command to make a total seizures of 46 as against 28 seizures made in the corresponding months of year 2021.

The seized items which contravene sections 46 and 47 of Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004. includes, unregistered medicament such as tramadol and codeine syrup, unprocessed wood, used clothing, and footwear, foreign parboiled rice and other sundry items that fall under prohibition list.

Yusuf urged stakeholders to join forces with the command and ensure that items that are on the import/export prohibition list are strictly adhered to and also prepare for the emerging realities of customs examination through Non - intrusive inspection (NII) regime

“The Non-Intrusive inspection regime which is targeted at increasing volume of cargo inspection, saving cost and clearing time, storing reliable data and Images for reference purposes and reducing human contact in the examination of containerized cargoes leading to delay in the clearance time”. he explained.