Apapa Customs Rakes In N212Billion Q1

…Facilitated 110,448MT Export

BY FUNMI ALUKO

Compt. Mohammed showcasing some of the seizures made by the command, flanked by his management team

The Apapa Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) collected a total of Two Hundred and Twelve Billion, Five Hundred and Ninety Two Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira, Ninety Nine Kobo (N212, 592,680,700.99) in revenue for the federation account between January and March 2023.

Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed who made the disclosure yesterday further disclosed that the command also processed a total of 110,448 metric tons agricultural export goods worth N70bn, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $159,845,232.84 in the first quarter of 2023.

The Apapa Customs boss said the resolve of the area command under his watch to enforce government fiscal policies one hundred percent is non negotiable, noting also that the command’s resolve to facilitate legitimate trade and ensure maintenance of national security and safety of citizens is equally pursued with unbroken commitment.

Comptroller Mohammed told Pinnacle Time: “The command under me recorded a total collection of N212, 592,680,700.99 covering January-March 2023.

“For export trade, the command processed agricultural goods such as sesame seeds, ginger, hibiscus, mineral resources, steel ingot and others with a total tonnage of 110,448 metric tonnes in the first quarter of 2023. Statistics from the export report shows that the exported goods are worth N70,200,829,358.67 which is equivalent to Free on Board (FOB) value of $159,845,232.84”

He explained that collaboration with sister agencies and critical stakeholders is key to customs operation and remains the hallmark of the NCS and the Command’s standard operating procedure (SOP).

“Our resolve to enforce government fiscal policies and extant laws to ensure that all import and export consignments transiting through Apapa Port are fully examined has been strengthened through effective collaboration and timely sharing of credible intelligence with sister government agencies in the port.”

Giving the breakdown of the Command’s anti-smuggling activities, Mohammed said, “Within the period under review, the command made seizures of 14 containers comprising of prohibited items such as vegetable oil, foot wears, used clothing, unprocessed wood, and tramadol tablets with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N22,099,618,111.00”, adding:

“On Friday, 31 March 2023, we uncovered a large quantity of 225mg of tramadol tablets concealed in 2x40ft container numbers TRHU-4758549 and TRHU-6936803 where 143,800,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tonnes (10,386kg) that originated from India. This single seizure is valued at N21, 600,000,000.00.

“We are on the look-out for those behind such unlawful importation for arrest and very soon we will track them down to face the full wrath of the law. As a Service, we owe Nigerians the duty to prevent this kind of importation from entering the market to safeguard the health of the citizenry.”

The unbendable customs chief said non compliant and recalcitrant traders would always find reasons to hate the service and be treated as state enemies who don’t mean well for the country, as the command will always confront such elements.

“Let me use this opportunity to warn perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion and other forms of criminality frowned upon by the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) and other extant laws, that Apapa Command will only facilitate legitimate trade.

“For anti-Smuggling, our resolve to enforce government fiscal policies and extant laws to ensure that all import and export consignments transiting through Apapa Port are fuly examined has been strengthened through effecbve collaboration and timely sharing of credible intelligence with sister government agencies in the port.

“Since my assumption of duty here, I have been meeting with various stakeholder groups comprising importers, exporters, licensed agents, freight forwarders, and others. I am happy to note that these meetings are yielding good results and will be sustained in days ahead.”

While showcasing some of the seizures made within the period under review, Mohammed expressed profound gratitude to the leadership and management of the service for the support accorded the management team of the command led by him.

“On this note, I want to respectfully extend my profound appreciation to the CGC, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) CFR and his Management team for their untiring support, government agencies in the port for collaboration and synergy, Officers and men of Apapa Command for their determined resilience.”