Apapa Customs Collects N1.8tn Revenue in 10 months
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Area Command said it collected N1.8tn as revenue between January and October 2024.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the command on Monday.
Olomu said the revenue collection is coming despite the remarkable decline in the volume of trade.
He added that the figure shows a 101 per cent increase compared to N931bn collected in the same period in 2023.
“From January-October 2024, we generated a total of N1.87tn as revenue. The figure is 101 per cent higher when compared to N932bn generated in the same period in 2023,” he said.
He added that in October alone, the command collected N264bn, stressing that the figure is the highest monthly collection in the command’s history.
The CAC expressed confidence that the command will meet and surpass its N2.2tn target for 2024.
Olomu added that from January to date, the command has made over 36 seizures of various items, including used clothing, frozen poultry products, tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other controlled substances.
He stated that the command has been able to block leakages and achieved maximum collection of revenue as evidenced in our monthly activities.
Olomu handed over six containers carrying falsely declared and unwholesome pharmaceutical and controlled products to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Olomu explained that these medical imports have expired, while others are not evaluated by NAFDAC and could cause damages to Nigerians if consumed.
He explained that the handover further underscored the robust inter-agency collaboration between the NCS and sister government agencies in the port.
The Apapa Customs boss said the handover demonstrates the command’s ability to prevent illicit importation from entering the Nigerian market through the port.
Olomu mentioned that the content of these containers contravene the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff and Section 233 of the NCS Act 2023.
He stated that some of the contents are unapproved dosages of tramadol, cough syrup with codeine, injections, and more.
