Q3 2024: Apapa Custom Command Generates N1.6tr in Revenue
…As Comptroller Olomu Steps Up Trade Facilitation Activiti
Kathy Kyari
As of the end of the third quarter of 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service's Apapa Port Command had collected N1,610,906,781,421.82k. This amount exceeds the total revenue for the year 2023, which was N1,172,414,793,960.32k.
CSC Usman Abubakar, the Command's Public Relations Officer, made this known in a statement on Monday.
Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Command's Area Controller, attributed the accomplishment to hard work and honesty.
He also stated that the command will keep interacting with stakeholders to enhance the revenue collection successes and decreased smuggling that the command can boast of.
According to Olomu, the N201.8b collected in July 2024 and the N193.9b collected in September 2024 were outstanding numbers that might be replicated in the final quarter of the year.
Comptroller Olomu stated that for the general good of the country's economy, the numerous trade facilitation initiatives put in place by Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi—such as advance ruling, Time Release Study, and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)—are being faithfully carried out.
The Area Controller reaffirmed the CGC's zero tolerance for smuggling while praising command officers for their success in collecting taxes through thorough investigation and unwavering interventions through the issuance of demand notices when and when needed.
The command, according to the CAC, should constantly engage with all stakeholders to sustain the rising level of compliance, which has resulted in less smuggling in the area.
He said that the nearly complete absence of smuggling in recent years is largely due to stringent cargo monitoring, ongoing port user profiling, stakeholder sensitisation, internal training, and customs officer retraining.
In order to address any areas of confusion and reassure licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and haulage operators of the command's constant readiness to assist, the CAC urged all port users in Apapa to utilize the services of the dispute resolution team.
He further expressed gratitude to sister government agencies for their assistance and said the command would always take advantage of their partnership to exchange intelligence against criminal elements, conduct cooperative exams in accordance with current standard operating procedures (SOPs), and encourage compliance at all levels.
"Our revenue collection is good, and I know we can do better with more impressive results in the last quarter of 2024. I want to thank our compliant stakeholders for their cooperation in supporting us to achieve this level of collection.
"Reduced smuggling activities is a testament to affirm the compliance we are celebrating, and I can say the best is yet to come. We are not losing guard. Our tempo of vigilance is airtight, which attests to our capacity to detect smuggling and make seizures.
"As we do trade facilitation, our anti smuggling activities are done side by side leveraging on our non intrusive technology for cargo scanning and physical examination when necessary. Let me also state that these standards and procedures are strictly adhered to in all bonded terminals under our control," Comptroller Olomu said
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