By Kenneth Jukpor
The newly appointed Customs Area Controller (CAC) Apapa Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta has set higher revenue targets for Command as he begins reign at the helm of the Command.
Comptroller Malanta was speaking during the handover ceremony after receiving hand-over notes from his predecessor, Acting Assistant Comptroller-General, Headquarters, ACG Mohammed Abba-Kura.
Malanta solicited the support of officers and port stakeholders, noting that his predecessor was able to achieve such level of success in the Command through enormous support from stakeholders and officers.
His words: “I want attitudinal change so that we can achieve better in this premier port, Apapa. I’m a team player. I’m here to learn more, especially from the officers here. I’m here as an administrator. Most people say I’m already grounded in Apapa but I consider myself as a brand new officer in Apapa because I left here six years ago and things have changed.”
He expressed excitement on the high recommendations by the out-going CAC, even as he extolled the accomplishments of Abba-Kura in revenue generation, anti-smuggling strides and boosting officer’s morale.
Speaking to the 2020 revenue collected at the Command which was more than one-third of the total revenue accrued by the Customs, Malanta said; “Last year’s revenue has a little stitches following the COVID-19 pandemic. If we address the issues, we can achieve more this year. There are loopholes and lacuna that we can close to generate more revenue”
Malanta also assured commitment to facilitate legitimate trade for honest and compliant practitioners, even as he warned that he wouldn’t make friends or patronize non-compliant importers and freight agents.
However, in his valedictory message to officers and stakeholders, Abba-Kura stated that it was a privilege to have served as the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Command in the last 23 months.
His words: “Precisely on the 18th of March 2019, I assumed the office of the CAC with a mission, and that mission was to consolidate of the legacies of my predecessors and to create an enabling environment where officers and stakeholders could work harmoniously for the betterment of the nation.”
“Over this period we achieved collection of over nine hundred and forty-six billion, two hundred and seventy-six million, five hundred and forty-three thousand, ninety-naira five kobo and remitted same to the Federation and non-federation accounts respectively (946,276,543,090.05); improvement in the annual revenue collection from N404billion in the year 2018 to N423billion in year 2019 thereby indicating an increase of N19billion.”
“Increase in seizures and its Duty Paid Value (DPV) from 97 in the year 2018 to 114 in 2019 and 318 in the 2020 respectively. In terms of DPV, the difference in value of 2019 seizure and that of 2020 stood at N12.5billion”
“Transfer of one thousand one hundred and forty-seven (1,147) overtime containers Government Warehouse Ikorodu in conjunction with relevant stakeholders. Enforcing compliance to import and export guidelines leading to increase in both revenue and the arrest of offending articles of trade.”
He also noted prompt resolution of disputes, adding that in some cases, consignments were released referring to the Single Goods Declaration form (SGD) to Post Clearance Audit unit (PCA) for follow up.
“Winning the World Customs Organization (WCO) certificate of Merit for the year 2020 for outstanding performance. Training of 404 senior officers of the Command in various aspect of customs operations. Training of various shareholders on the operation of Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS). Resuscitation of the Command gym center to a modern one. Construction of model clinic in the command to address medical emergencies for both officers and stakeholders,” were some other accomplishments highlighted by Abba-Kura.
