Lagos retains 60% imports through Apapa Ports, Customs’ cash cow
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
About 60 per cent of cargo imported through the Lagos Ports (Apapa, Tin Can Island, Lekki) are retained in the state, where 20 million residents constitute the richest demography in Nigeria with massive purchasing power.
Timi Bomodi, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Area Controller of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command, the disclosed the cargo percentage when he hosted the new executive members of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).
He said the huge volume makes the movement of cargo out of the ports difficult.
Asked if the NIS has approached Lekki Port to use its under-utilised capacity, he explained that utilising the facility will be to the advantage of the new port as its operations increase.
He said all Lekki Port needs to do is get ocean-going barges with the capacity to carry about 200 each to move excess consignments to KLT, via reporting by Vanguard.
Lekki Port has disclosed having consultation with a company with ocean-going barges to convey cargo out of the port.
Lekki Port Manager/HSE & Community Liaison Officer, Adurayemi Ogundele, announced the plan when he hosted the Port Standing Task Team, led by its National Coordinator, Moses Fadipe.
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Apapa Customs garners N213b revenue, intercepts N22b Tramadol
Apapa Area Command yielded N213 revenue into the coffers of the NCS in the first quarter of the year spanning January to March 2023 (Q1 2023).
NCS Area Controller Auwal Mohammed, who made the disclosure, said 144 million tablets of Tramadol worth N22 billion enroute Nigeria from India in March were also intercepted.
He explained the tablets were in 225mg, each weighing 10.3 tonnes, and were concealed in 40 feet containers.
“It is pertinent to mention that on Friday, 31 March, 2023, we uncovered a large quantity of 225mg of tramadol tablets concealed in 2x40ft container numbers TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803 where 144m tablets of Tramadol 225mg were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tons that originated from India. This single seizure is valued at N21.6bn,” Mohammed said.
He disclosed the command in Q1 2023 also processed for export, agricultural products like sesame seeds, ginger, hibiscus, mineral resources, steel ingot, and others, weighing 110, 448 tonnes.
“Statistics from the export show that the exported goods are worth N70 billion. Which is equivalent to free on board value of $159 million.”
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