The Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it has collected the total sum of Eighty- one billion, seven hundred and forty- eight million, four hundred and thirty- seven thousand, one hundred and ninety- two Naira only (N81, 748, 437, 192.00) in the first quarter of 2018.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Nkeiruka Nwala who disclosed this in a release she issued in Lagos recently stated that the figure showed an increase in the revenue profile by four billion, three hundred and seven million, seven hundred and ninety- one thousand, four hundred and seventy- seven Naira (N4, 307, 791, 477. 00) when compared to the seventy- seven billion, four hundred and thirty- nine million, six hundred and forty- five thousand, seven hundred and fifteen Naira (N77, 439, 645, 715. 00) collected as revenue in the same period in 2017.
Nwala however noted that the command was optimistic that with the roll out of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) in Apapa which was expected to block all revenue leakages as well as the repairing of the Apapa axis roads, the command would build on her revenue profile in the months ahead.
She further pointed out that the command in the first quarter recorded four (4) seizures of 4×40 ft containers of controlled drugs including Tramadol in excess of approved milligrams adding that the Duty Paid Value of those (4x40ft) containers was put at One Hundred and Ten Million, Sixteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty- Four Naira (N110, 016, 524. 00).
“The Command had in the first quarter of 2018 recorded a total of about 280,000 metric tons of various exports with a total FOB value of $115,093,562 US dollars”, she added.
The command’s spokeswoman observed that the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Jibril Musa had continued to reinvigorate all strategies and mechanisms put in place for the effective and efficient implementation of the Federal Government’s Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business.
According to her, “It is worthy of note to mention that the NCS is the lead Agency in the implementation of the presidential mandate and Apapa Area Command selected as the pilot command had since created the Central Examination Centre (CEC) where all stakeholders involved in cargo clearance Conduct examination at an agreed time with reports imputed almost immediately. This synergy/interfacing had paid off remarkably as consignments with no record of infractions are released within 24 hours while those with infractions are referred to dispute resolutions committee for further interventions/investigations.
“The CAC has pledged his resolve to keep strengthening the already robust working relationship/collaboration among all agencies of government for enhanced international trade facilitation. Within the period under review, he played host to different high- level Government delegations from within and outside the country with a view of promoting efficiency and facilitation of trade in the country.
“These include; the Senate Committee on Customs led by its chairman Sen. Hope Uzodimma, a delegation from Japanese Customs led by the Japan Ambassador to Nigeria, National Committee on Trade Facilitation led by its Chairman, Mr. A. M. Abubakar, New Commander Nigeria Navy Clearance Agency, NAFDAC Director in charge of ports inspection, Prof. S. B. Adebayo and a delegation from NTA.
“Others who visited the command include one of the NCS reform champions, DC Tony Anyalogu who sensitized officers on revised government fiscal policy in line with the presidential executive order and the new palletization policy. Relatedly, the command also played host to the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in- charge of Excise Industrial Incentive and Free Trade Zone (EII&FTZ), DCG Iferi Patience (Ph.D) who visited the LADOL Free Trade Zone and wharf to ascertain the compliance level to the provisions of laid down regulations on Free Trade Zone Concessions.
“The purpose of these visits was to cement the already existing working relationship and to seek possible ways of improving the speedy consignments/ cargo clearance. However, one message that remained clear and constant during these visitations from the CAC was that Nigeria is the only country we have as such we all have the responsibility of building it for sustainable development and progress. He challenged importers to make honest declarations in order to achieve timely clearance and release of their cargoes”.
Nwala concluded with an appeal to all stakeholders and the general public at large to cooperate with the Nigeria Customs Service by always ensuring total compliance to extant laws and regulations which at the long run would improve Nigeria’s rating in the global trade indices for a seamless and speedy cargo clearance.
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