Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), at the weekend, presented its first quarter (Q1) report of its activities, saying that it generated N264.5 billion between January and March this year.
The Area Controller, Controller Yusuf Malanta Ibrahim, who spoke at a media briefing in Apapa, said the N264.5 billion revenue showed an increase of N104 billion as against N159 billion collected within the corresponding period of last year, representing a 65.7 per cent increase.
He stated that the feat was made possible by the creativity of the officers, who leveraged information technology (IT) with corporation from other stakeholders.
The Command also witnessed an increase in its anti-smuggling operations, with 46 seizures of various items with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.142 billion as against 28 seizures made in corresponding months of 2021.
Ibrahim further revealed that unregistered drugs such as Tramadol, Codine syrup, unprocessed wood, used clothes, foot wears, foreign parboiled rice and sundry items under the prohibition list in clear contravention of sections 46 and 47 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LFN 2004.
Read Also: WhatsApp warns users could be banned for breaking these five rules
The Command restated its readiness to continue its drive towards trade facilitation but warned that it will not relent on clamping down on those whose businesses thrive on contravention known trade laws.
The Controller further explained that the Command did not also relent in the area of encouraging diversification of the Nigerian economy through non-oil export, saying various items, such as agricultural produce, mineral resources, steel and others were exported through the port, The Trumpet gathered.
Statistics, however, revealed that goods worth N34.072 billion with free on Board (FOB) value of $88 million were exported, which showed an improvement compared to the N30.2 billion, which is equivalent to FOB value of $82.1 million between January and March 2021.
He also pointed out that in spite of revenue collection and trade facilitation, the Command will not relent in fighting those bent on circumventing laws to defraud the Federal Government of revenue.
