By Uzor Odigbo
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS ) on Thursday, said it recorded 1.266 million metric tonnes of exported goods in 2018.
The command also stated that the exported commodities was valued at $239,467,926.23 last year.
Speaking during the command’s maiden press conference and award ceremony, held in Lagos, Comptroller Bashir Abubakar, said the command recorded high level of compliance on export declaration while 2,500 containers were blocked for non-compliance.
He noted: “All these items were seized owning to various infractions such as false declaration, concealment and complete disregard to import and export guidelines.”
According to him, the “command recorded 1, 26649.67 metric tons of exported good in 2018 valued $239,467,926.23 us dollars which equivalent to N 73.157 billion.
The command Area controller attributed the success to the selfless stance of officers and men of the command and also with the support and backup of the CGC, Col Hameed Ali (rtd)and his management team.
He, however, urged stakeholders to continuing to cooperate with customs by adhering strictly to the extant laws and guidelines on import and export for the collective goods of our nation.
While speaking on the total revenue collection for last year,the customs boss noted that it generated a whooping sum of N404, 020,447,791.42 as revenue, pointing out that the other strategies the command adopted which lead to the success includes instance on seamless operation of the import and export business by his administration.
Abubakar also explained that the command has introduced 24-hour dispute resolution team, one spot examination for the unit and other government agencies.
He said that the implementation of these strategies had helped to block most revenue leakages and enhanced trade facilitation and security.
On seizures recorded in 2018,the customs boss stressed that “Seventy two containers of various general goods such as used spare parts, used tyres and other Sundry goods Valued at N9.626 billion in 2018.
In the area of anti-smuggling, Abubakar said: “In the year under review, the command also seized and condemned 41 of 40ft containers or controlled pharmaceutical drugs including tramadol in excess of the allowable milligrams with Duty Paid Value (DPV) N8.812billion.
“Furthermore, the command also intercepted and seized one export bound used helicopter with registration number 5BN valued at N210.6 million, in addition another import bound Aircraft “Cessna 182A” in CKD with serial no. 3400 valued at N486.9 million was also seized in accordance with the provision of the extant laws and guidelines.
“Showing that in 2018 the command collected N53,042,035,977.22 above the 2017 revenue collection, indicating an increased collection of 13.13% over 2017 collections.”
He noted that the command achievement in 2018 earned the command the World Customs Organisation (WCO) award during the WCO day in January 2019.
Highpoints of the event was the honour of awards to the Controller of the command and five officers of the units .
The officers awarded by the World Customs Organisation (WCO),in line with the International Customs Day Celebration , include:Assistant Controller ,Bello Ale Ahmed (T/M CIU), Assistant Controller Faith M. Ojeifor (FTZ) and Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1 B.Zarama Adamu (CPU Manifest).
Others are CSC Usman Illiyasu (Staff Officer, Sifax Terminal ) and Superintendent of Customs , Peter Odangla (Staff Officer,CIU).