Nigeria Customs says 178,572.13 metric tonnes of cocoa, sesame seeds, palm oil and other food items with a total Free on Board (FOB) value of $249,419,604.52 were exported through Port & Terminals Mutiservices Limited (PTML) at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos in 2022.
This development was disclosed by the immediate past Customs Area Controller of the PTML Customs Command, Assistant Comptroller General Suleiman Bomai who informed that the Command in the year collected N229,473,912,976.97 as revenue into the coffers of the government.
In a statement, Bomai said this figure was an increase of N5,003,799,243.00 over the revenue for the year 2021 which was N224,470,113,733.00.
“Despite the recorded downtime occasioned by agents strike and alleged inability by some importers to clear their vehicles from our control, we were able to surpass 2021 revenue collection last year”. Bomai added.
On anti- smuggling activities, Bomai said the Command made some seizures in the year, which was as a result of diligent hundred percent cargo examination and deployment of intelligence.
According to him, the command uncovered attempts to smuggle arms and ammunition into the country which was concealed in imported vehicles.
He stated that four seizures were recorded with a duty paid value of Thirty-six million, three hundred and sixteen thousand, one hundred and fifty-five naira only (#36,316,155.00).
The seizures were 1X40ft container containing three vehicles used to conceal two fire arms, One used Ford Edge containing Fire Arm and thirty rounds of live cartridges, One used Toyota sienna containing fire arm and One used Toyota corolla containing ninety rounds of live ammunition.
He hinted that a total of 6 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and granted administrative bail.
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