LAGOS: Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Apapa Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos has done the federal government proud again by pulling in the sum of N1.610,906 trillion as at the end of the third quarter of 2024, which is higher than N1.172 trillion that was collected as total revenue of the year 2023.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Command Public Relations Officer, Usman Abubakar and made available to journalists.
However, Customs Area Comptroller for the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, who described the feat as a fallout of diligence and integrity, said the command will continually engage with stakeholders to improve on the revenue collection achievements and reduced smuggling recorded to the command’s credit.
He identified the N201.8 billion collected in July 2024 and N193.9 billion in September 2024 as spectacular figures capable of being replicated again 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 Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, 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 lauding 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 command, according to the CAC, shall continually engage with 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, sensitization of stakeholders and in-house training, and retraining of Customs officers have jointly contributed to the almost zero level of smuggling in recent times.
The CAC urged all port users in Apapa to avail themselves of the services of the 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 and stated 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.
“Our revenue collection is good, and 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, and 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.