Apapa Customs Boss Clears Air on Scanners Status …Says Command Collected N522b Half Year

The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Port, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta has dispelled rumour making the rounds that officers were unwilling to utilize the cargo scanner allocated to the command earlier the year, explaining that the scanner is yet to be deployed.
The Apapa Customs boss who addressed the press in his office earlier today on the command’s half year performance scorecard also disclosed
the collection of over N522billion in revenue duty between January and June 2022.
He explained that the deployment of the scanner has been made impossible because of the ongoing standard gauge rail construction into the Apapa port, which passes through the Customs scanner, noting that the service is conscious of the health implication on workers like the Nigerian Railway workers.
His words: “Scanners are already on ground but we have logistics challenge because the standard gauge rail line is passing through the scanning.

“We can’t operate the scanners while the rail construction work is in progress because the radioactive activity would pose health threats to the workers.”
“These scanners have already been synchronized with the current platform of NCS which is the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II. The scanners in Onne and Tin Can Island are working.”
Malabar however noted that both the NCS and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) are putting heads together to ensure that the situation observed above is addressed to allow for the deployment of the scanners shortly.
Speaking on its revenue, Malanta said the total of N522.4 billion collected represent 42.5% increase with N156 billion as against N366.5 billion collected within the corresponding period of 2021.

According to him, the command also processed export goods processed a total of 2.5 million metric tonnes with Free on Board (FOB) Value of $138million as against 540,000 mt with
$1.6 million FOB Value processed same period in 2021.
On anti-smugling, Malanta said 83 containers with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N8.3 billion were seized while 21 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
He said the seized items include 32 containers of processed/unprocessed wood; 5 containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals; 18 containers of used clothings/ shoes; 12 containers of foreign parboiled rice and 7 containers of vegetable oil; among others.
His words: “In the period under review, the command has collected revenue to the tune of N522.4 billion. This shows a significant increase of N156 billion as against N366.5 billion naira collected in the corresponding months of the year 2021, representing 42.5% increase in revenue collection.
“This feat was made possible because of our officers’ resilience in ensuring identified revenue leakages have been mitigated, while sustaining the level of compliance by the importers/stakeholders in the clearance value chain.”

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He continued: “Our anti-smuggling operation is guided by the Federal Government Import and Export prohibition lists, as well as other government fiscal policies as directed. For the period under review, we have managed to curb the smuggling of dangerous items, resulting in the seizure of 83 containers with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N8.3 billion.”
On export, he said, “The Federal Government policy and export incentive schemes have played vital roles in boosting export trade in Nigeria.
“The Command has consistently strived in its core mandates of revenue generation, prevention and suppression of smuggling, Trade facilitation, implementation of government fiscal policies as well as collaboration and cooperation with other government agencies to ensure ease of doing business in the port.
The Customs boss said the impressive performance was made possible with officers’ resilience in ensuring identified revenue leakages are mitigated, in addition to sustaining the progressive level of compliance by the importers/ stakeholders.