Apapa Customs Generates N1.6tn Q3

…As Olomu Double-up On Trade Facilitation

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it collected a total of N1,610,906,781,421.82k in revenue receipt as at the end of the third quarter of 2024.

According to the command, the figure is over and above the sum of  N1,172,414,793,960.32k collected in the year 2023, January to December.

Customs Area Controller (CAC)for the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi described the feat as a fallout of diligence and integrity, noting that the command will continually engage with stakeholders to improve on the revenue collection  achievements and reduced smuggling recorded to the command’s credit.

The Command Public Relations Officer, Usman Abubakar in a statement quoted the CAC as saying officers and men of the command are resilient and more than ready to replicate staggering sums collected in July and September, 2024.

“He identified the N201.8b collected in July 2024 and N193.9b 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 MFR, 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 commending 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 extraordinary performing area boss, shall is determined to continue to engage with all stakeholders to sustain the rising level of compliance, which according to him “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.

Olomu enjoined all port users doing business in the premier port command 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 continue to support and encourage them to remain compliant 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, “he said.