By Olubunmi ISOKPEHI, Lagos
Committed to more revenue generation and robust seamless synergies, the Customs Area Controller ( CAC), Apapa area command, Nigeria customs Service, NCS, Compt. Yusuf Malanta, has reviewed its operation in the first quarter of 2022, and had generated over N264.5 billion within this period.
The CAC added that the amount collected represented a 65.7 percent increase when compared to N159 billion generated in the same period in 2021 under review.
Compt Yusuf asserted, “This amount collected(N264,536,201,293.71) shows a significant increase of N104 billion as against 159 billion naira collected in the corresponding months of the year 2021, representing 65.7% increase in revenue collection.”
The CAC, added, “This feat was made possible because of our Officers Creativity and leveraging on the service information technology (IT) platforms, which helped to Alleviate revenue leakages, and sustain the level of compliance by importers and other stakeholders in the cargo clearance value chain.”
In the area of Anti-Smuggling operations, the Controller said, “The Enforcement Unit has been strengthened through strict monitoring, enhanced collaboration and sharing of credible intelligence with relevant government agencies to suppress smuggling activities to its barest minimum.”
Compt Yusuf Malanta reiterated, “These collaborations and credible intelligence sharing made it possible for the command to make a total seizures of 46 as against 28 seizures made in the corresponding months of year 2021.”
The CAC reaffirmed, “The seized items which contravene sections 46 and 47 of Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004. includes, unregistered medicament such as tramadol and codeine syrup, unprocessed wood, used clothing, and footwear, foreign parboiled rice and other sundry items that fall under prohibition list.”
On exports trade, the CAC said, “The command recorded export of agricultural goods, mineral resources, steel and more to the tune of over N34 billion and additional cargoes with Free-on-Board (FoB) value of over $87 million, compared to N30.2 billion, and FOB value of $82.1 million recorded in 2021.”
His words: “The enforcement unit has been strengthened through strict monitoring, enhanced collaboration and sharing of credible intelligence with relevant government agencies to suppress smuggling activities to its barest minimum.”
“The seized items include; unregistered medicaments such as tramadol and codeine syrup, unprocessed wood, used clothing, and footwear, foreign parboiled rice and other sundry items that fall under prohibition list.”
He added that the items contravene sections 46 and 47 of Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA CAP C45 LFN 2004.
The CAC appealed to all relevant and critical stakeholders to join forces with the command and ensure that items that are on the import/export prohibition list are strictly adhered to and also prepare for the emerging realities of customs examination through non-intrusive inspection (NII) regime.
His words: “The non-intrusive inspection regime is
targeted at increasing volume of cargo inspection, saving cost/clearing time,
storing reliable data and Images for reference purposes and reducing human contact in the examination of containerized cargoes leading to delay in the clearance time”.
