By Kenneth Jukpor
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command has generated a total of two hundred and three billion, two hundred and sixty-four million, fifty-four thousand, six hundred and eighty- two naira, sixty-nine kobo (N203,264,054,682.69) in the first half of 2019, even as goods worth over 14.2 billion naira were exported from the command within the period under review.
The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Muhammed Abba-Kura revealed this during a press briefing yesterday, noting that the figures represented 54.5% of the annual revenue target of the command having been given a monthly revenue target of thirty-one billion, forty-six million, six hundred and fifty-five thousand, thirty-nine naira, twenty-five kobo (N31,046,655,039.35) and a yearly revenue target of three hundred and seventy-two billion, five hundred and fifty-nine million, eight hundred and sixty thousand, four hundred and seventy-two naira, twenty-three kobo (N372,559,860,472.23).
According to him, “Comparative analysis of the revenue collection of the command between January – June 2018 and 2019 indicates an increase of twenty-six billion, five hundred and seven million, two hundred and ninety-eight thousand, five hundred and ten naira, twenty-four kobo (N26,507,298,510.24).
“Recall that the command collected the sum of one hundred and seventy-six billion, seven hundred and fifty-six million, seven hundred and fifty-six thousand, one hundred and forty-five naira, fifty kobo (N176,756,756,145.55) in 2018.
The Area Controller attributed the success achieved by the command to the strict adherence to professionalism through sensitization of officers as to their responsibilities and working in line with the standard operational procedures for optimal revenue collection.
He added that periodic stakeholders’ engagements, open door policy, prompt resolution of disputes by the Dispute Resolution Committee as well as maintaining right synergy and collaboration with other sister agencies also contributed to the command’s increased revenue profile .
On export, the Controller disclosed that the command also achieved high level of compliance on export declaration stating that the command recorded a total of 95,229.15 metric tons of exported with FOB value of forty-six thousand, six hundred and thirteen thousand, four hundred and fifty-three ad seventy -five US Dollar ($46,613,453.75) which is equivalent to fourteen billion, two hundred and fifty-eight million, four hundred and forty-three thousand, seven hundred and six naira, sixty -three kobo (N14,258,443,706.63), most of them of the exported items were agricultural and mineral products.
On anti-smuggling, the CAC said, “Within the period under review, the command seized a total of twenty -nine containers of various items that contravened import procedures. These items include Tomato Paste, vegetable oil, ladies and girls fashion footwear, tramadol and other drugs. It also includes Armoured Glasses without End User Certificate and drilling pipes labelled in foreign language.
“All the listed items have breached the Federal Government Fiscal Policy Measures for 2018/2019. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these items stands at four hundred and eighteen million, four hundred and thirty-seven thousand and forty-eight naira (N418,437,048).”
He assured that the command would speedily facilitate legitimate, compliant and all trade that have satisfied the necessary procedures concerning the transaction adding that all sch consignments would get accelerated clearance out of the customs system.
