The Nigeria Customs Service generated N1.02 trillion in its Apapa Area Command in the first half of the year, representing a 143% rise over the same period last year.
This disclosure was made by the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Babatunde Olomu, during a news conference in Lagos on Monday, according to Nairametrics.
He stated that this figure represents a 143% increase over the N421.38 billion generated during the same period in 2023. He pointed out that the instruction generated the amount despite a significant drop in transaction volume.
Olomu stated that the agency’s efforts to promote and facilitate commerce are producing major results.
He said, “Our efforts have been mainly targeted at preventing revenue losses, improving ease of doing business, and engaging stakeholders.
“We have implemented measures to prevent government revenue loss by using a blend of intelligence and community relations.”
Olomu stated that during the review period, the command captured 11 containers of controlled products worth N424 million, including expired pharmaceuticals, illicit goods, and frozen birds. This is in contrast to 42 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.4 billion in the same time in 2023.
He stated that these seizures were done by dishonest importers who attempted to smuggle products into Nigeria. The command discovered a considerable quantity of expired and unregistered medications in three 40-foot containers, as well as three more 40-foot containers laden with 7,580 cartons of frozen poultry items unfit for human consumption.
The Customs Area Controller added that the smuggled commodities breached Schedule Three of the Common External Tariff’s (CET) amended import restriction list, as well as Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. He praised the leadership of Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Customs, and congratulated the team for their efforts.
He credited the command’s success to the support of sister agencies in the port, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and Nigeria Army.
He noted that, in line with the CGC’s zero-tolerance policy for smuggling, the command has restructured cargo management from the mother port to bonded terminals to ensure more rigorous control. He stated that no cargo can leave their custody without a full inspection with the scanner.
Olomu affirmed that thorough cargo inspection would not be jeopardized and that the command will continue to make seizures, detentions, and arrests as needed to defend the national economy and protect Nigerians from unsafe or unhealthy products such as illicit drugs.
