By Babatunde Aremu
The Apapa Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday, said it generated over one trillion, Eight hundred billion naira revenue between January and October, 2024
The command comptroller, Babatunde Olomu made this disclosure while addressing journalists in Lagos .
According to him the command also made over thirty six seizures worth over one billion, five hundred million within the same period.
Comptroller Olomu added that despite the decline in the volume of Trade the tremendous revenue generation was made.psossible by blocking leakages that would have drained the revenues.
His words,
“Despite remarkable decline in the volume of trade, this command has been able to block leakages and achieved maximum collection of revenue as evidenced in our monthly activities.
“From January-October 2024, we generated a total of One trillion, eight hundred and seventy-five billion, three hundred and sixty-two million, three hundred and sixty-nine thousand, two hundred and fourteen naira, four kobo (N1,875,362,369,214.4) higher than the Nine hundred and thirty-one billion, one hundred and twenty-three million, nine hundred and ninety-eight thousand, two hundred and thirteen naira, eighty-eight kobo (N931,123,998,213.88) generated in the corresponding Period in the year 2023, showing 101% increase over last year’s revenue figure.
“It is instructive to state that our October 2024 collection is Two hundred and sixty-four billion, Four hundred and fifty-five million, Five hundred and eighty-seven thousand, Seven hundred and Ninety two-naira, fifty-six kobo (N264,455,587,792.56).
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.”
On its anti-smuggling exploits, the command handed over six containers of unwholesome pharmaceutical and controlled products falsely declared to officials of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
He added that the handing over further underscores the collaboration of Customs with other sister agencies even as he boasted that the agency has the capability to prevent influx of illicit drugs into the country.
‘”Today, on the instruction of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we shall be handing over six (6) containers carrying falsely declared and unwholesome pharmaceutical and controlled products by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
“The 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.