The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos State has generated N1.8 trillion revenue between January and October 2024.

The Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this at the handing over of six containers of illicit drugs to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Lagos on Monday, November 4, 2024.

Olomu said despite the remarkable decline in the volume of trade, the command was able to block leakages and achieve maximum collection of revenue.

Olomu said: “From January to October 2024, we generated N1.8 trillion higher than the N931.1 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2023, showing a 101 per cent increase over the 2023 revenue figure of the command.

“It is instructive to state that our October 2024 collection is N264.4 billion. This is the highest monthly collection in the history of this command.

“Therefore, we are hopeful of meeting and even surpassing our target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds down.”

The Area Controller stated in line with the federal government’s agenda of ease of doing business, the command operated on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay.

Apapa Customs intercepts N1.1bn illicit drugs

He added that they have an intra-government working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies.

Olomu said the command has a wider customs stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to Customs alone were looked into and addressed as and when due.

Olomu disclosed that the command, last week, facilitated the first shipment of cargo to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCPTA) regime.

He added that the command handed over six containers carrying falsely declared pharmaceuticals to NAFDAC and NDLEA.

The Customs official said: “This handover further underscores the robust inter-agency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and sister government agencies in the port.

“It further demonstrates our ability to prevent illicit importation from entering the Nigerian market through the port.

“As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing the import and export of cargo that could undermine their well-being and security.

“These medical importations have expired, while others are not evaluated by NADAC and could cause damages to Nigerians if consumed.”

The Star