Apapa Customs Generates N89b Nov ‘21.

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) made a record breaking revenue collection totaling N89, 097,888,609.00 in November 2021; which also represents the highest monthly collection by any command in the history of the Service.

This feat clearly replicates the drive of the command under its current leadership, as the command also generated N86billion in the month of October, following improved inter agency synergy, enhanced trade facilitation, speedy dispute resolution and prevention of revenue losses.

Command Public Relations Officer, Usman Abubakar, a  Deputy Superintendent of Customs in a statement made available to our reporter said the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Malanta Yusuf described the latest feat as the beginning of improved outputs for the command, noting that the rising revenue profile will be sustained.

Yusuf thanked the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) for his support and direction in the deployment of artificial intelligence tools and improved logistics, which he said has cumulatively raised the command’s productivity level.

“This N89,097,888,609 (eighty nine billion, ninety-seven million, eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand, six hundred and nine naira) collection is an improvement but we are aiming higher than this.

“Our first step is to improve on our stakeholders’ compliance level, which in my assessment is commendable. Second is to strengthen the inter agency synergies between customs in Apapa and other agencies of government, this is also a huge success.

“We are gradually making Apapa Port a no go area for perpetrators of illegalities because all recent attempts at smuggling prohibited items through the port were uncovered.”

He continued: “While we are facilitating trade, collecting revenue and promoting ease of doing business, our attention will also be focused on issues of national security too. This will continually be evident in our mode of cargo examination and intelligence sharing with sister agencies

“By the time we commence the use of scanners and other tools of artificial intelligence, trade facilitation will be at a higher speed and as the flagship command, this will reflect very positively on our revenue” the CAC said.