The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it generated N210.2 billion revenue, including N343.4 million on exports between Jan. and July, against N196.7 billion in same period of 2017.
The outgoing Area Controller of the command, Comptroller, Jibrin Musa, said this while handing over to the new controller, Comptroller Abubakar Bashir in Lagos on Thursday.
According to him, the revenue target for 2018 stands at N246.61 billion.
He attributed the success recorded by the command to the introduction of the Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) and good leadership by the Comptroller General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali.
He added that the dedication of the officers and men of the command contributed to the success of the command in generating the revenue.
“The significance of this unrivalled attainment will be appreciated when compared with what the command generated in 2017 in the months under review, which was N196.7billion.
“There was an increase of N13.5 billion in revenue when compared with what was generated in 2017.
“The command also recorded nine seizures within the period under review such as pharmaceutical products, vegetable oil and other contrabands,” the controller said.
Musa said 13 containers of Tramadol were imported in contravention of approved guidelines and procedures.
“The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizures was N357 million, while the 13 containers of tramadol will be handed over to the National Agency
for Foods, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for necessary investigation.
“The Free On Board (FOB) value of the seizures was also put at N57.6 million. All the achievements were due to the Federal Government’s effort at diversifying the Nigerian economy through encouragement of non-oil exports,’’ Musa said.
He said over the years, the command had engaged the best traditional communication tools to acquaint stakeholders with the activities of the Customs.
Musa said the command usually had constant engagement with stakeholders, and also received high level delegations from different government agencies as well as nationals of foreign countries and members of different strategic private committees.
He urged officers and men of the command as well as the media to give the new controller the support to enable him achieve the mandate of suppressing smuggling and generating revenue for the government.
In his response, the new controller commended his predecessor for his dedication.
Bashir urged the officers in the command to continue working in harmony and be guided by the rules of the service. (NAN)