Mohammed Shosanya
The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service(NCS),says it earned N502,987,516,219.26 between January and July,this year.
It also made 16 seizures of goods worth a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.4 billion within the same period.
Customs Area Controller of the Command , Comptroller Auwal Baba Mohammed, described the revenue collection and seizures made as fallouts of increased compliance to rules and regulations which enhances smooth trade facilitation.
He tasked officers to redouble their efforts in revenue collection, trade facilitating and strict enforcement of anti-smuggling activities.
“The command made a collection of N9.2billion on July 20, 2023. This feat is the highest daily collection it ever achieved in its existence since the port was established,” he added.
On anti-smuggling activities,he said the seizures made within the period comprised of prohibited drugs, used tyres, rice, vegetable oil, and sundry items.
He added:”It is noteworthy that the command made a seizure of two pistols inside one groupage cargo. One suspect is arrested, and the matter is undergoing investigation.”
On trade facilitation,the Command under the leadership of Compt. AB Mohammed achieved an increased level of compliance by importers, exporters, and their agents through deliberate system profiling and manifest tracking.
Under his direct supervision,dedicated officers of the command were using the system profiling yardstick to gauge the integrity levels of importers and consignees.
This, according to the command,has helped in treating traders in line with their previous transaction records, which is reassuring that compliance pays through time saving and cost efficiency.
He implored port users to be compliant,adding that non compliant traders spend more time and money paying for terminal spaces due to demurrage in addition to higher costs due to DN”s and penalties.