The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has stated that it generated N227.3 billion in the first half of 2020 and recorded seizure of 142 containers laden with items such as cars, rice, vegetable oil, for contravening the nation’s import guidelines.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Mohammed Abba-Kura, noted that the second layer of checks and balances which the command carried out helped it to recover the lost revenues that had escaped the first layer of checks and balances in one way or the other.
Abba-Kura disclosed this in Lagos while giving half a year account of his stewardship, saying the command was able to achieve the feat despite various challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Abba-Kura, “In spite of all challenges, the Apapa Area Command has maintained its tempo at ensuring that maximum revenue is collected in addition to trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling.
“There has been a steady improvement in revenue collection all through the half-year except for the month of May which recorded a decline of about 3.531 billion when compared between the years 2019 and 2020.
“The command in the half-year of 2019 collected a total sum of N203.264 billion as customs duty and other charges like seven percent surcharge, Value Added Tax, one percent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) among others.
“From January to June this year, the command collected a huge sum of N227,347,046,233.53, which represents an increase of N24,082,991,550.84 or 10.59 percent increase from the previous year.”
The seized items as listed by the controller were one Rolls Royce 2018 and one Lamborghini Huracan sports car 2019 model with a Duty Paid Value of N324.530 million.
Others were 64 containers of pharmaceuticals, 32 containers of rice, 7 containers of used clothes and shoes, 25 containers of vegetable oil, 3 vehicles, 2 containers of packaging materials, and 2 containers of detergents. Also seized were candy milk, used tyres, cigarette filter, rugs, and textile materials which all were in one container each, with all items having a DPV of N15,904,954,220.
He urged stakeholders, importers, exporters, and their agents to always follow and observe the laid down import and export guidelines and procedures.
“In addition to seizing these goods, we have equally invoked the provisions of section 167 of CEMA which deals with detention, seizure, and condemnation of goods. All these seized items have been condemned by a court of competent jurisdiction – Federal High Court and have now become the properties of Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.
During the period, Abba-Kura noted that goods – agricultural products, mineral resources, and steel bars, among others – worth N52,369,506,770.90 exported through Apapa port under the command free on board value.
The area controller said that tonnage of the goods stood at 1.642 million tonnes, with FOB value in American dollars of $171,142,178.99.
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