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•Apapa Command rakes in N17.9bn daily
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja and Steve Agbota
The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) has said it generated N4.49 trillion between June 2023 to 2024, representing a 74 per cent increase, when compared to the previous year, which stood at N2.58 trillion.
This is as the Apapa Command, the flagship revenue generation wing, rakes in N17.9 billion daily.
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Wale Adeniyi, stated this on Wednesday, at a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate his one year in office.
Adeniyi attributed the increase in revenue generation by the service to some strategic initiatives, including; “N15 billion recovery by the Revenue Review Performance Recovery exercise, N2.79 billion recovered from the 90-day window for the regularisation of the documents of uncustomed vehicles, as well as N1.5 billion recovered from the decongestion of 1,705 overtime containers and 981 vehicles from the port.”
He said the achievements of Customs on his watch was underpinned by a sustained increase of 70.13 per cent in average monthly revenue collection compared to the previous year.
“NCS recorded an average monthly revenue collection of N343 billion, compared to the N202 billion monthly average.
“Notably, there was a substantial 122.35 per cent rise in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year. These gains were compared to the N 202 billion monthly average. Notably, there was a substantial 122.35 per cent rise in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year”.
The Customs boss added that the Service, during the period under review, recorded significant gains in trade facilitation through the decongestion of ports and the reopening of access roads that were previously inaccessible.
Furthermore, he noted that “between 2020 and 2022, the NCS maintained an average percentage score of 18.45 per cent, ranking 28th out of the 37 MDAs ranked. By 2023, the NCS ranking fell further to 34th out of 39 MDAs, with a percentage score of 18.53 per cent.
“However, by 2024, I am delighted to announce that the NCS moved up 33 places, now tied at the top with 4 other MDAs out of the 36 MDAs assessed, with a percentage score of 100 per cent, marking a 81.5 per cent increase.
“This remarkable improvement is directly attributed to the trade facilitation measures implemented within the past year. The NCS remains committed to ensuring that all recommendations and global yielded significant gains, facilitating the processing of export goods through the Lilypond command.”
Adeniyi further stated that from initially handling “ 317 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) in transactions, the terminal now manages 7,464 SGDs, accounting for 19.49 per cent of the total 38,294 export transactions recorded in 2023.
“By the first quarter of 2024, the Service has processed a total of 10,786 transactions, with 3,162 (29.32 per cent) of these processed through the dedicated export terminal.”
Also, the CGC, who noted that the service intensified its efforts to combat smuggling in the last one year, said this resulted in significant interception, high value seizures, as well, numerous arrests.
“The Service recorded 63 seizures related to animal and wildlife products valued at ₦566 million. Additionally, seven seizures of arms and ammunition were made through our ports and borders. In terms of illicit drugs, a combined total of 127 cases
involving narcotics and pharmaceutical products were seized, valued at over ₦6 billion.
“The Service also recorded 724 seizures of 2.93 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) that were attempted to be smuggled out of the country. The illegal dealings in petroleum evacuation have garnered the interest of relevant stakeholders, and the ongoing Operation Whirlwind will continue to intercept and disrupt the activities of smugglers in this regard.
“In a bid to guarantee food security and suppress the smuggling of food in and out of the country, the Service recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grain seizures valued at ₦4.4 billion. These concerted efforts underscore the NCS’s commitment to protecting society and ensuring national security.”
Meanwhile, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated N17.9 billion revenue daily at Lagos Ports.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, made this revelation at a press conference in Apapa yesterday, said that the feat is as a result of Customs officers’ intensified efforts to curb revenue loopholes amid dwindling cargo throughput estimated to have dropped by more than 50 percent.
He equally revealed that the Command recently intercepted 2 containers of used clothing and Crusader soap.
“The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a landmark daily collection of N17,903,312,598 on June 14, 2024 being the highest since its inception.”
“This feat is the beginning of many revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling exploits to be achieved in the course of discharging our statutory responsibilities,” the Apapa Customs boss said.
Olomu, however, assured port users and stakeholders that officers and men of the Command under his leadership will continue to prioritize trade facilitation and strive to surpass its targets.
Meanwhile, he opined that the unprecedented revenue collection is a way of celebrating one year in office of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR whose inspiring and motivating leadership contributed greatly in the achievement.
“Finally, I want to use this medium to urge port users to always abide by the tenets and etiquette of lawful operations such as obeying the extant import and export guidelines, prompt and accurate payment of duty and promotion of regular engagement in the national interest,” he remarked.
