. Intensifies Speedy Cargo Clearance

Nigeria Customs Service the Apapa Area Command in the first quarter of 2018 amassed the sum of N81, 748, 437, 192.00
when compared to the N77, 439, 645, 715 collected as revenue in the same period in 2017.
In a press release made available to TheNiche newspaper, Nwala Nkeiruka Ijeoma, public relations officer of the command stated that it shows an increase in the revenue profile by four billion, three hundred and seven million, seven hundred and ninety- one thousand, four hundred and seventy seven Naira (N4, 307, 791, 477. 00).
The Command is optimistic that with the roll out of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) in Apapa which is expected to block all revenue leakages as well as the repairing of the Apapa axis roads, the Command will build on her revenue profile in the months ahead.
In anti- smuggling, the command in the first quarter recorded four (4) seizures of 4×40 ft containers of controlled drugs including tramadol in excess of approved milligrams.
The duty paid value of these (4x40ft) containers is put at one hundred and ten million, sixteen thousand, five hundred and twenty- four Naira only (N110, 016, 524. 00).
The Command had in the first quarter of 2018 recorded a total of about 280,000 metric tons of various exports with a total FOB value of $115,093,562 US dollars.
The Customs Area Controller, Jibril Musa has also continued to reinvigorate all strategies and mechanisms put in place for the effective and efficient implementation of the Federal Government’s Executive order on the Ease of Doing Business.
It is worthy of note to mention that the NCS is the lead Agency in the implementation of the presidential mandate and Apapa Area Command selected as the pilot command had since created the Central Examination Centre (CEC) where all stakeholders involved in cargo clearance Conduct examination at an agreed time with reports imputed almost immediately.
This synergy/interfacing had paid off remarkably as consignments with no record of infractions are released within 24 hours while those with infractions are referred to dispute resolutions committee for further interventions/investigations.
The CAC has pledged his resolve to keep strengthening the already robust working relationship/collaboration among all agencies of government for an enhanced international trade facilitation. Within the period under review he played host to different high- level Government delegations from within and outside the country with a view of promoting efficiency and facilitation of trade in the country.
These include; the Senate Committee on Customs led by its chairman Sen. Hope Uzodimma, a delegation from Japanese Customs led by the Japan ambassador to Nigeria, National Committee on trade facilitation led by its Chairman Mr. A. M. Abubakar, New Commander Nigeria Navy Clearance Agency, NAFDAC Director in charge of ports inspection Prof. S. B. Adebayo and a delegation from NTA. Others who visited the command include one of the NCS reform champions, DC Tony Anyalogu who sensitized officers on revised government fiscal policy in line with the presidential executive order and the new palletization policy. Relatedly, the command also played host to the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in- charge of Excise industrial incentive and free trade zone (EII&FTZ  DCG Iferi Patience (P.hD)  who visited the LADOL Free Trade Zone and wharf to ascertain the compliance level to the provisions of laid down regulations on Free Trade Zone Concessions.
The purpose for these visits was to cement the already existing working relationship and to seek possible ways of improving the speedy consignments/ cargo clearance.
However, one message that remained clear and constant during these visitations from the CAC was that Nigeria is the only country we have as such we all have the responsibility of building it for sustainable development and progress. He challenged importers to make honest declarations in order to achieve timely clearance and release of their cargoes
The Apapa Area Command appealed to all stakeholders and the general public at large to cooperate with the NCS by ensuring total compliance to extant laws and regulations which at the long run will improve our rating in the global trade indices for a seamless and speedy cargo clearance.