The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of Nigeria Customs Service has generated a total sum of Seventy four billion, two hundred and eighty six million, seven hundred and seven thousand, four hundred and forty three naira, one kobo.(₦ 74, 286, 707, 443.01k) as Customs duty and other charges between January and October, 2023.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, the Area Controller of the command, Comptroller MS Yusuf noted that in comparison to the revenue collected same period in 2022, the command collected Sixty billion, fifty six million, one hundred and twenty five thousand, eight hundred and twenty three naira twenty nine kobo (₦60, 056, 125, 823.29k). The controller stated that this clearly showed a progressive difference of Fourteen billion, two hundred and thirty million, five hundred and eighty one thousand, six hundred and nineteen naira, seventy two kobo (₦14, 230, 581, 619,72k) depicting a twenty three percent (23%) increase in duty collection.
According to Yusuf, the Command so far has met 76.34% of its annual target.
He explained that this was made possible as a result of resilience of officers in ensuring that clearing agents were made to do proper declarations and to adhere strictly to import/export guidelines in tandem with extant laws.
In the area of anti-smuggling activities, the controller asserted that officers and men of the command are not resting on their oars in enforcing government fiscal policies and other trade guidelines.
He disclosed that the command intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products suspected to be Tramadol tablets.
He further said that the shipment was intercepted on the suspicion of exceeding the approved threshold by the Federal Government.
The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned items stood at Three Billion, five hundred and fifty six million, eight hundred and two thousand, nine hundred and forty two naira, eighteen kobo (₦ 3,556, 802,942.18k).
It was scheduled to be handed over during the press briefing.
In the area of stakeholders’ engagement, the controller stated that the command has maintained its open-door policy and resolved a lot of issues of common interest with concerned stakeholders.
He thanked critical stakeholders, sister agencies and the media for their collaborative efforts and synergy while carrying out Customs’ statutory mandate in the state.
Yusuf profoundly thanked the Comptroller General of Customs BA Adeniyi (MFR) for providing an enabling environment as regards to the renovation in the Command.
He extended his gratitude to officers and men of the Command, urging them to remain focused and steadfast in discharging their assigned responsibilities.