…To Commence NICIS II Training
By Oyeniyi Iwakun
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted containers loaded with different controlled and regulated pharmaceutical products/drugs worth N110,016,524.00 even as the Area Controller, Comptroller Jibrin Musa promised to commence the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) training at the Command in tandem with the full automation and computerization of customs processes.
In a press briefing on Monday 11th, February 2018, the Area Controller explained that based on credible intelligence received on Tuesday 6th February, 2018, over 2000 cartons of Tramadol capsules of varying milligrams, 160 cartons of Dobumol Anagestic, 56 cartons of Collstop Chlorpheniramine Maleate capsules (4mg), 453 cartons of Rally Extra (50mg), 198 cartons of Col-Caps Capsules (4mg) and others were discovered in three containers MRSU 3637149, MRKU 6196764 and MRSU 3516384 imported by Villa Gold Pharmacy from India after interception.
“The products are controlled and the milligrams imported are outside specifications by federal government. We work hand-in-hand with sister agencies like National Agency for Food Drugs Administration And Control (NAFDAC), that’s why we were able to Intercept them”
“One wonders what negative impact would have resulted in the aftermath if these drugs find their ways into the larger society. These could have aggravated the already tensed situation in the country”, he said.
Comptroller Musa expressed optimism in the NICIS II as he said the software is about to be deployed into the Apapa Area Command to effectively block all revenue leakages, and increase not only the Command’s revenue profile but compliance level even as he urged stakeholders operating within the larger value chain to embrace the initiative.
“The new application is faster, more efficient, all-encompassing, and will provide opportunity for seamless cargo clearance” he said.
The Comptroller also announced that the Command has generated a total revenue of N31,015,084,626.85 in January 2018 as against the N25,958,919,218.73 realized in 2017, showing an increase of over N5.1 billion while noting that the annual target for the command in 2018 is N426 billion or N35.5 billion.
“Judging by the way we started, I believe God willing we will do everything within the confines of law to meet and even surpass the 2018 annual target.” He said.
