Ranmilowo Ojalumo
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area 1 Command has recorded a whopping sum of N89.7 billion as a revenue for the month of November, 2021.
The N89.7 billion revenue for November 2021 was the highest monthly revenue generated by any Command of the Customs in the country.
The command also made seizure worth 285 million in the month of November, 2021. The command bogus revenue generation is in line with the strict mandate giving by the Comptroller General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd) in the areas of enhanced revenue generation and non- compromise for smuggling.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday, the Controller of the Command, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf said the revenue generation is a result of improved inter- agency synergies, enhanced trade facilitation and speedy dispute resolution and prevention of revenue leakages.
The controller said the Command during the period , also recorded 97 seizures with duty paid value(DPV) of N7.8 billion and impounded 13 containers in November this year with DPV of N285 million .
According to the controller, the seized items are hard substances like captagon pills,cocaine, Tramadol, Codeine syrup, Foreign par boiled rice, Tomato paste, used clothing among others were seizures made based on clear contravention of sections 46, 47 and 161 of CEMA (Customs and Excise Management Act) Cap C45 LFN 2004.
The controller said the Command will not sacrifice proper examination on the altar of trade facilitation, and will not relent on sharing intelligence to alert the system on false declaration even after examination or release of falsely declared cargo, saying the Command will always unveil concealment through the use of forensic manifest management system, and synergy with other sister agencies in the ports.
He warned perpetrators of illegalities, reminding them that the Command’s officers are always vigilant to uncover any form of unlawful trade, while he reiterated the Command’s resolve on meticulous examination of all cargoes coming in and out of Apapa port to curb the menace of illicit trade, even as he appealed to the general public and importers of non-prohibited items to make sincere declarations, pay accurate duty and get required permits to avoid losing their investments and facing prosecution.
