Apapa Port Customs Posts Over N1.6 Trillion Third Quarter Result

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS  Apapa Port Area Command  has announced revenue  generation of over  N1.6 Trillion for the third quarter of the year ended September.

The Comptroller, of the Command, Babatude Olomu, said the feat is a  direct consequence of diligence and integrity in service delivery.

This is even as he  assured that the Command will continually interface with all relevant stakeholders, for the purpose of improving on its revenue generation abilities.

A statement issued on Monday October 7, 2024  by the Command’s Spokesperson, Usman Abubakar, quoted Comptroller Olomu as also crediting the robust fight against smuggling activities as part of the reasons for the great leap in the revenue generation profile of the Command.

The N1.6 .trillion revenue generated, according to the Olomu, represents a considerable increase in the over N1.172 trillion collected during the corresponding period in 2023.

The Comptroller similarly identified the N201.8billion generated in July 2024 and N193.9 billion realized in September this year as spectacular figures capable of being replicated in the last quarter of the year beginning from October.

Further speaking, the Comptroller Olomu lauded the immense contributions of innovative measures put in place by the NCS Comptroller General, CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to the unprecedented revenue generation feat of the Command.

According to him, such policies as the advance ruling, time release study and Authorized Economic Operator, AEO, as being dutifully implemented, have greatly impacted on the revenue generation capacity of the Command.

However, the Comptroller noted that the Command’s emphasis on improved revenue generation, has not prevented it from strictly adhering to measures aimed at combating smuggling and other economic sabotaging activities within the Apapa port.

Comptroller Olomu, therefore, while appreciating officers and men of the Command for the achievement in revenue generation relying on diligent examination and uncompromising interventions, also praised them for being alive to the battle against unwholesome economic activities.

“The Command shall continually engage with all stakeholders to sustain the rising level of compliance which has resulted in reduced smuggling in the area.

“The Strict monitoring of cargoes, constant profiling of port users, sensitization of stakeholders and in-house training and retraining of officers have jointly contributed to the almost zero level of smuggling in recent times.

“Our revenue collection is good, and I know that we can do better with more impressive results in the last quarter of 2024. I want to thank our compliant stakeholders for their cooperation and support to us in the achievement we have recorded.

“Reduced smuggling activities is a testament to affirm the compliance we are celebrating, and I can say the best is yet to come.

“We are not losing guard. Our tempo of vigilance is air tight, which attests to our capacity to detect smuggling and make seizures,” Olomu stated

The Apapa Port Comptroller also lauded the support and understanding of sister agencies, promising that the Command will always leverage its relationship with them to share intelligence against criminal elements, embark on joint  examinations in line with extant standard operating procedures, as well as promote compliance at all times”.