By Uzor Odigbo
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said it recorded $5,505,076.00 of exported goods with Free On Board (FOB) value between January and March 2019.
The outgoing Area Controller in charge of the command, Acting Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Abubakar gave the figure on Monday, during his handing over ceremony in Lagos.
Bashir who was elevated over the weekend to his new rank, noted that the command intercepted 24 containers laden with tomato pastes and vegetable oil with a duty paid value of N200,867,124.00 within the period.
The former Area Controller Onne, said the annual revenue target for 2019 fiscal year is yet to be conveyed to the command officially, but added that a whooping N60,109,247,444 was recorded by the command between January and February 2019.
According to him, the Apapa Area Command records the highest revenue collection in the Nigeria Customs Service and is equally the biggest port in sub Saharan Africa which always serves as a target point for any government fiscal policy implementation.
“This commendable collection is achieved even with the full in business activities due to high expectations on the 2019 general elections,” the outgoing Controller stated.
He called on officers and men of the command to cooperate and support his successor.
While responding, incoming Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Abba-Kura assured stakeholders in the industry of revamping the monthly meeting which had been stalled for a while .
Abba-Kura assured that the service would continue to put in place measures that will encourage revenue drive and trade facilitation.
He also urged the outgoing Controller to work harder in the new position in achieving greatness.