The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) said it recorded 14.6% increase in revenue collection during the fiscal year 2023 despite a decline in trade volume.
Controller of the command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba said the command achieved a revenue collection of 1.172trillion in 2023 surpassing the 2022 revenue collection of N1. 02trillion by over N149.8billion.
He said the 2023 collection is 14.6 % higher than the figures recorded in 2022.
In a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Abubakar Usman, Comptroller Jaiyeoba said the command recorded improved revenue by prioritising trade facilitation, ensuring an enabling trade environment for importers, exporters and other members of the trading public as well as sustained anti- smuggling activities.
“The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service has kept the tempo of improved revenue collection by crossing the N1 trillion mark in the face of declined trade volume, promoting trade facilitation and sustained its anti- smuggling activities to protect the nation’s economy.
“In 2023, the command lived up to its mandate by ensuring an enabling trading environment for importers, exporters, shipping companies, terminal operators, bonded warehouse owners, and others involved in Customs control. “The command recorded remarkable feat in the areas of revenue collection and trade facilitation in the out gone year by collecting at a total of N1.172 trillion in 2023, which is over N149. 8billion above the revenue collection of N1. 02 trillion in 2022.
“Under Compt. Jaiyeoba’s watch, the command achieved a daily collection of N11.3 billion on November 22, 2023, which is the highest daily collection in the history of the NCS. “In the same vein, the command recorded N145 billion revenue collection in October 2023, which represented the highest monthly revenue collection by any customs command,” the statement said.
In the area of anti – smuggling, the Controller said the command intercepted contraband worth N22.84 billion in the year under review. He said the seizures were made due to infractions like contravention of the extant import/export prohibition lists, false declaration and unlawful concealment among others.
A breakdown of the seizures comprises prohibited items such as used clothing, foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, tomato paste, among others. Comptroller Jaiyeoba sounded a note warning to smugglers and traders involved in any form of illegality that Apapa Port is a no-go area adding that any attempt to test its resolve will be met with the seizure of their wares, arrest, and prosecution of suspects in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
He urged compliant traders to keep up their good deeds by making honest declaration, noting that integrity is key to the achievement of 48hrs cargo clearance. He added that the dispute resolution, query and amendment seats have been made more active to address the needs and legitimate demands of port users too.
The Controller also solicited the support of all players in the port system, including haulage operators, terminal operators, clearing/forwarding agents, and shipping companies, towards achieving a 48- hour cargo clearance. He said, “It is achievable in no distance time if we all play our roles effectively.
This command is ready to facilitate legitimate trade and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth. “As we begin the new year, the command urges port users to always make sincere declarations, keep themselves abreast of import and export prohibitions, and abide by them, paying their customs duties at all times.”
