The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service has collected a total sum of N502,987,516,219.26 from January 2023 to date and intercepted two pistols and other seizures worth a duty paid value of N1.4 billion within the same period.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed, in a press statement signed by the Customs Public Relations Officer of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abubakar Usman, described the revenue collection and seizures made as a result of increased compliance.
He urged officers to redouble their efforts in revenue collection, trade facilitating and strict enforcement of anti-smuggling activities.
He said, “The command made a collection of N9.2b on July 20, 2023. This feat is the highest daily collection the command had ever achieved in its existence since the port was established.”
“The seizures made within the period comprised of prohibited drugs, used tyres, rice, vegetable oil, and sundry items,” he noted.
He said the command had achieved an increased level of compliance by importers, exporters, and their agents through deliberate system profiling and manifest tracking.
“Dedicated officers of the command are using the system profiling yardstick to gauge the integrity levels of importers and consignees.
“This 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 explained.
The Customs Area Controller urged all port users to be compliant and advised that compliant traders are shielded from the risk of getting their consignments seized, imposing penalties after demand notices and possible arrests for prosecution as the case may require.
He stressed that non-compliant traders spend more time and money paying for terminal space due to demurrage, plus higher costs due to Demand notice and penalties.
While commending officers of the command for their excellent work etiquette, he stressed that Nigeria has high expectations of the NCS and that the service is looking up to Apapa Command for its highest collection.
He said, “As we facilitate trade for compliant traders, let’s be wary of the possibility of releasing uncustomed goods in error or in the guise of facilitating trade,” he said.