In a sustained effort to generate more revenue for the Federal Government, suppress smuggling activities and improve trade facilitation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Command, Babatundert Olomu, has said the command generated N1.8 trillion between January and October 2024.
Olomu disclosed this during the handover of six containers of illicit drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“Despite the remarkable decline in the volume of trade, the command was able to block leakages and achieve maximum collection of revenue, as evidenced in our monthly activities. From January to October 2024, we generated N10.8 trillion higher than the N931.1 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2023, representing a 101 per cent increase over the 2023 revenue figure of the command,” he said.
Speaking further, he said: “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.”
In addition, the CAC reiterated, “In line with the Federal Government’s agenda of ease of doing business, the command operated on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay.”
The CAC, however, said they have an inter government working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies, adding: “We have a wider customs stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to customs alone were 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 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) regime.”
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Olomu added that the NCS handed over six containers carrying falsely declared pharmaceuticals to NAFDAC and NDLEA, stressing: “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 importations have expired, while others are not evaluated by NADAC and could cause damages to Nigerians if consumed.”
Responding, Assistant Commander General of Narcotics at NDLEA, Buba Wakawa, attributed the seizures to the established synergy with the Nigerian Customs Service.
“The illicit drugs were detected as a result of the dedication and determination of officers of the NCS and NDLEA. The assistant commander general said that the drugs were plotted inside 23 cartons in five containers and were later intercepted by the officers.
However, the ACN, NDLEA urged Nigerians to be careful when buying drugs as some Tramadol remained with registered drugs.
In his remarks, a NAFDAC Director, Dr. Olakunle Olaniyan, commended Comptroller Olomu for collaborating with sister agencies for a safer environment.
Olaniyan said: “We thank customs for handing over substantial and fortified drugs that could be consumed by youths in the society,” adding: “There’s zero tolerance for smuggling of substandard drugs into Nigeria and we shall further investigate the seizures.”
Olaniyan urged the media to continue educating the public for more Nigerians to be aware of the dangers of illicit drugs.
