Apapa Customs Records N2trn As Revenue … Hopes to meet revenue target before December
Apapa Customs Records N2trn As Revenue
… Hopes to meet revenue target before December
The Apapa Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has recorded a total revenue collection of N2.01 trillion as at November 19, 2024.
Customs Area Controller of Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi who disclosed this while addressing officers and men on parade on Wednesday November 20, 2024, also said the command hopes to achieving its N2.2 trillion revenue target for the year by the end of November, ahead of December.
Comptroller Olomu, further stated that the command is drawing the inspiration from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR who announced the total revenue collection of N5.07 trillion by the service at the just concluded CGC conference held in Abuja.
Besides this, he said the Apapa Customs Command plays a critical role in the overall performance of the service nationwide.
In addition to this, he said the command contributed 40% of the N5.07 total target of the service that has been met so far, which underscores the high expectations and responsibility of the command.
Comptroller Olomu, therefore urged officers to align with the outstanding examples set by the Comptroller-General of Customs in revenue collection, trade facilitation, uncompromising enforcement and sustained stakeholders engagement in the Service and national interest.
He further charged the officers to keep the trajectory of good revenue and enforcement records sustained and ensure that seizures made from smugglers should be backed with suspects for prosecution.
Arresting smugglers with their wares, according to him, would cause greater impact in the fight against smuggling. He therefore used the opportunity of the parade to update the officers on important highlights from the CGC Conference. He equally urged them to imbibe the spirit and letter of the theme: which was “Engaging Traditional and New Partners With Purpose”.
Comptroller Olomu stated that the NCS 2024 CGC Conference theme aligns with the World Customs Organization which seeks to leverage on achievable gains from cordial relationship across organizations and individuals to achieve customs goals.
He listed some outcomes from the conference which include sustenance of diligent import and export cargo examination with the deployment of hundred percent physical examination where necessary, granting of access to enforcement unit officers to view the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) platform, and avoidance of indiscriminate intervention of alerts which makes service personnel appear to be working at cross purposes.
According to him, the NCS is one and should operate and be seen as one. Other fallout from the CGC Conference announced by the Area Controller are the banning of commercial activities within customs formation and premises.
He listed such activities like the engagement of Point of Sales (PoS) operators around customs offices, and involvement of customs officers in clearing jobs, that is doubling as licensed agents, which conflict with their official mandates.
Further breakdown of other messages from the Conference announced by Comptroller Olomu included compulsory and routine medical checks for all officers, instituting rewards and honouring outstanding officers for their productivity, development of inter zonal games being put together by the Service Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), fully automated of transire by first quarter of 2025 and the expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) and Advance Rulings (AR) scheme.
He also announced that the command is planning an award night for deserving officers and stakeholders that have contributed to its success in 2024. He also gave plagues award to some units and individuals for excellent discharge of their functions.
The compliant unit was honoured over the recovery of over N2 billion in the last three months, while efforts of the Revenue Recovery Unit that also prevented the loss of N3 billion within the last three months was also recognised.
Assistant Comptroller M Samad received an award from the CAC for diligence and regular detention of under valuation. Olomu also honoured Inspector of customs, Adamu Bashir as best dressed and punctual officer.
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