The revenue generation of Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service has plummeted in the first half of the year.
The revenue collected during the period under
Compt. Auwal Baba Mohammed fell abysmally by about N20 billion when compared to the amount generated within the same period in 2022.
The command in a press statement announced that it collected a total of N502,987,516,219.26 from January 2023 to July 25.
This indicates a poor performance against the N522.4 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2022 in spite of the fact that duties and rates have gone up recently due to the dwindling value of naira against other currencies.
The revenue generation of the command at this period under normal circumstances is expected to rise but it has taken a downward turn.
Attempts to shore up the revenue profile of the command by padding the half year report with additional 25 days earnings in July failed to redeem the command from the embarrassing shortfall.
However, the command made 16 seizures worth a duty paid value of N1.4 billion within the same period.
Two pistols concealed in a groupage cargo were also seized. A suspect was arrested as the matter is undergoing investigation.
Comptroller Mohammed described the revenue collection and seizures made as fallouts of increased compliance and urged officers to redouble their efforts in revenue collection, trade facilitation and strict enforcement of anti smuggling activities.
The command announced the collection of N9.2b on July 20, 2023, saying that the feat is the highest daily collection it ever achieved in its existence since the port was established.
The seizures made aside the pistols within the period comprised of prohibited drugs, used tyres, rice, vegetable oil, and sundry items.
The command, according to the press statement, achieved an increased level of compliance by importers, exporters, and their agents through deliberate system profiling and manifest tracking.
Under the CAC’s direct supervision, dedicated officers of the command are using the system profiling yardstick to gauge the integrity levels of importers and consignees.
This has helped in treating traders in line with their previous transaction records, which is reassuring that compliance pays through time saving and cost efficiency.
The controller urged all port users to be compliant, stating that compliant traders are shielded from the risk of getting their consignments seized; imposition of penalties after demand notices and possible arrests for prosecution as the case may require.
According to Mohammed, non compliant traders spend more time and money paying for terminal space due to demurrage plus higher cost due to DN”s and penalties.
He has also raised the level of electronic manifest tracking to accelerate trade facilitation leveraging on available technology.
The CAC described this feat as a masterstroke in the journey towards trade facilitation and ease of doing business.
At a recent monthly meeting of Terminal/Unit Heads, Comptroller Mohammed exhorted all officers of the command to sustain and improve upon the level of discipline the command has been noted for under his watch.
He characterised discipline as the foundation of good work etiquette, such as punctuality, diligent application of Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023 and other noble virtues that align with the law.
He further stressed that Nigeria has high expectations of the NCS and that the service is looking up to Apapa Command for its highest collection.
He charged officers/men of the command to use their knowledge of the job and the rules guiding the Service to facilitate legitimate trade.
He said, ” As we facilitate trade for compliant traders, let’s be wary of the possibility of releasing uncustom goods in error or in the guise of facilitating trade.
“I hereby charge you to do better in the second half of 2023 as the glory for the successes recorded in the first half belongs to all of us.”