The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
The Apapa customs command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the first quarter of the year 2021 (January -Màrch) seized a total of 28 containers of various offending items breaching section 46,47,161of the customs and excise management act CAP 45 LFN 2004 and schedules 4 and 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET). and raked in the sum of one hundred and fifty-nine billion, five hundred and eight two million, forty-seven thousand, one hundred and thirty-four naira eleven kobos (N159,582,047,134.11) as import revenue.
The seizures according to the press release signed by the Comptroller Yussuf Ibrahim Mallanta, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command were made possible by the resolve of the officers and men of the command were always at alert in enforcing government fiscal policies and facilitation of legitimate trade.
It was stated that on the assumption of leadership, two months ago, (February – march) the command made significant seizures of 23 containers of various items such as unregistered pharmaceuticals like tramadol, codeine, used clothing, foreign parboiled rice with a duty paid value of seven hundred and seventy-three million, eight hundred and nine thousand, six hundred and twenty nairas (N773,809,620.00) However, the total seizure for the first quarter (Jan – Mar 2021) stands at 28 containers with a duty paid value of one billion, eight hundred and seventy-one million, nine hundred and forty-four thousand, three hundred and seventy nairas (N1,871,944,370.00).
In the area of revenue generation, the Command made a total collection of one hundred and fifty-nine billion, five hundred and eight two million, forty-seven thousand, one hundred and thirty-four naira eleven kobos (N159,582,047,134.11) in the first quarter of the year (January-March .2021) as customs duty and other charges. This represents a 44.8%increment in duty collection when compared to last year figure of over a 110billion of the same corresponding months, Jan-Mar 2020.
The difference recorded according to the CAC was made possible because of the stakeholder’s engagement, officers resolution in discharging their duties and increased level of compliance in the trader’s zone.
The release also stated that export statistics obtained showed that goods worth Forty billion, five hundred and fifty-nine million, three hundred and seventy-eight thousand, twenty-nine kobos, (N41,559,378,029) was exported through the command within the same period of January to March 202; These exports include manufactured products such as soap, textiles, noodles, agricultural products such as cashew nuts, Hibiscus, Sesame seeds and other mineral resources.
The total tonnage of the said export stood at 116 million tonnes with Free On Board (FOB) value of one hundred and nine million,
six hundred and fifty-five thousand, three hundred and fifty-one US Dollars ($109,655,351.00).
While appreciating the support of the various stakeholders and other government agencies in the command, the controller said “We have also achieved enhanced customs community relations through meetings and strategic engagements with various stakeholders including importers, licensed customs agents, media and others who interface with customs in trade supply
chain”
He also commended the efforts of the officers and men of the command for their steadfastness in discharging their assigned responsibility and urged them to remain focused at every given time.
