– Surpasses 2023 collection by 101 percent
– Confiscate six containers of expired drugs
Esther Oritse
Lagos — The Apapa Area One Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Monday said it has collected over N1.8 trillion for first ten months of the year, surpassing 2023 collection by 101 percent as over N931 billion was collected in the period under review.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, the Command’s Area Comptroller, Dr. Babatunde Olomu said that for the month of October, a total of N264.4 billion was collected being the highest in the history of the command.
Olomu also said that with the amount so far collected, the command will likely surpass its 2024 revenue target of N2.2 trillion.
Besides the huge revenue generation, the command also seized a total of six containers of expired pharmaceutical products which was handed over to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
He said: “Despite remarkable decline in the volume of trade, this command has been able to block leakages and achieved maximum collection of revenue as evidenced in our monthly activities.
“From January-October 2024, we generated a total of N1.875, higher than the N931.1 billion generated in the corresponding period in the year 2023, showing 101% increase over last year’s revenue figure.
It is instructive to state that our October 2024 collection is N264.4 billion, this is the highest monthly collection in the history of this command. Therefore, we are hopeful of meeting and even surpassing our target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds down.
“Nevertheless, the command has keyed into trade facilitation tools like AEO and Advanced Ruling to ensure seamless movement of both import and export cargoes.
“In line with the Federal Government agenda of Ease of Doing Business, the command operates on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay. We also have an intra government working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies. Equally, we have a wider customs-stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to customs alone are looked into and addressed as and when due.
“It is noteworthy to state that just last week, the command facilitated the first shipment of cargo to Kenya under the AfCFTA regime.
“We shall be handing over six (6) containers carrying falsely declared and unwholesome pharmaceutical and controlled products to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“This handover further underscores the robust inter-agency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and sister government agencies in the port. It further demonstrates our ability to prevent illicit importation from entering the Nigerian market through the port.
“As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing the import and export of cargo that could undermine their well-being and security. These medical imports have expired, while others are not evaluated by NAFDAC and could cause damages to Nigerians, if consumed.
“The content of these containers contravenes the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (CET) and section 233 of the NCS Act 2023. Some of the contents are unapproved dosage of tramadol, cough syrup with codeine, injections and more.
“However, from January 2024 to date, we have made well over thirty-six (36) seizures of various items ranging from used clothing, frozen poultry product, Tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other controlled substances. These seizures are valued at over N1.5 billion.
“I want to thank all sister government agencies and our strategic private sector partners for being part of the success we are celebrating today. Their contributions have been invaluable, and the impacts are evident in our scorecard.
“Let me remind all our port users that every consignment passing through the NCS in this port will be subjected to thorough examination using scanners and physical means when necessary.
“We shall continue to detect false declarations, concealment, under valuation and other unethical practices aimed at evading duties, shortchanging the government and exposing citizens to unsafe products.”
