Apapa Customs Command Generates N212.6bn in the First Quarter of 2023

...Intercepts 14 containers of illicit goods valued at N22 billion

Joy Mmereole Okoli

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it has generated the sum of two hundred and twelve billion, five hundred and ninety-two million, six hundred and eighty thousand, seven hundred naira, ninety -nine Kobo (N212,592,680,700.99) as revenue between the months of January and March 2023.

The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed disclosed this at a press briefing in Apapa today.

Mohammed added that statistics from the export report showed that the exported goods were worth seventy billion, two hundred million, eight hundred and twenty-nine thousand, three hundred and fifty-eight naira, sixty-seven Kobo (N70,200,829,358,67) which he said was equivalent to Free On Board, FOB value of $159,845,232.84.

While speaking on anti-smuggling, the Controller maintained that within the period under review, the command made seizures of fourteen (14) containers comprising of prohibited goods such as Vegetable oil, footwear, used clothing, unprocessed woods and tramadol tablets with a Duty Paid Value of twenty-two billion, ninety-nine million, six hundred and eighteen thousand, one hundred and eleven naira (N22,099,618,111).

Comptroller Auwal hinted that on Friday, 31st March 2023, the command uncovered a large quantity of 225mg of tramadol tablets concealed in 2x40ft container numbers TRHU 4758549 and TRHU 6936803 which is worth one hundred and forty-three million, eight hundred thousand (143,800,000).

He said it was discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tonnes (10.386kg) that originated from India. This single seizure is valued at twenty-one billion, six hundred million naira (N21,600,000,000.00).

“We are on the lookout for those behind such unlawful importation for arrest and very soon, we will track them down to face the full wrath of the law. As a Service, we owe Nigerians a duty to prevent this kind of importation from entering the market to safeguard the health of the citizenry.

“Let me use this opportunity to warn perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion, and other forms of criminality frowned upon by the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA and other extant laws, that Apapa command will only facilitate legitimate trade,” he said.

The Comptroller said since his assumption of office in the command in January this year, he has been engaging meeting with stakeholders and various inter-agency collaboration, various stakeholder groups comprising importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders and others, saying

“I am to note that these meetings are yielding good result and will be sustained in the days ahead.”

He insisted that Apapa command had a deliberate culture of inter-agency collaboration with other government agencies noting that within the last three months, he had enjoyed robust sharing of credible intelligence and support from other agencies of government.