Apapa Command generates N1.6tr in revenue, boosts efforts to enhance trade facilitation activities
The Apapa Port Command of Nigeria Customs Service has made history by collecting a whopping sum of N1,610,906,781,421.82k as of the third quarter of 2024, surpassing the total revenue of N1,172,414,793,960.32k collected in 2023.
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller, credits the Apapa Command’s impressive N1.6 trillion revenue collection in Q3 2024 to diligence and integrity. This achievement surpasses the total revenue of N1.172 trillion collected in 2023. Olomu emphasizes that the command will continue to engage with stakeholders to further improve revenue collection and reduce smuggling.
He is optimistic about replicating the impressive revenue collection figures of N201.8 billion in July 2024 and N193.9 billion in September 2024 in the last quarter of the year, starting from October.
Comptroller Olomu praised the effective implementation of various trade facilitation programs introduced by Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR. These programs, including advance ruling, time release study, and Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), have been instrumental in boosting the nation’s economy.
He praised the Apapa Port Command officers for their outstanding revenue collection performance, which resulted from diligent examination and uncompromising interventions, including issuing demand notices when necessary. He emphasized the Comptroller General of Customs’ zero-tolerance policy for smuggling, underscoring the command’s commitment to sustaining its rising level of compliance and reducing smuggling activities.
The command, according to the CAC, shall continually engage with all stakeholders to sustain the rising level of compliance, which has resulted in reduced smuggling in the area.
Comptroller Olomu credits strict cargo monitoring, constant port user profiling, stakeholder sensitization, and in-house customs officer training for the significant reduction in smuggling at the Apapa Port Command. These combined efforts have led to an impressive N1.6 trillion revenue collection by the end of Q3 2024, surpassing the total revenue of N1.172 trillion collected in 2023.
To further enhance compliance and reduce smuggling, the command encourages all port users to utilize its dispute resolution team. This team is dedicated to resolving any areas of uncertainty, ensuring a seamless experience for licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and haulage operators.
He thanked sister government agencies for their support and stated that the command will always leverage on its relationship with them to share intelligence against criminal elements, do joint examinations in line with extant standard operating procedures (SOPs) and promote compliance at all times.
“Our revenue collection is good, and I know we can do better with more impressive results in the last quarter of 2024. I want to thank our compliant stakeholders for their cooperation in supporting us to achieve this level of collection.
” Reduced smuggling activities is a testament to affirm the compliance we are celebrating, and I can say the best is yet to come. We are not losing guard. Our tempo of vigilance is airtight, which attests to our capacity to detect smuggling and make seizures.
“As we do trade facilitation, our anti smuggling activities are done side by side leveraging on our non intrusive technology for cargo scanning and physical examination when necessary. Let me also state that these standards and procedures are strictly adhered to in all bonded terminals under our control,” Comptroller Olomu said.
About The Author
