…hands over seized pharmaceuticals to Sister Agencies
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Apapa Premier Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has again recorded another remarkable achievements for the month of October 2024 with an impressive revenue of Two hundred and sixty-four billion, Four hundred and fifty-five million, Five hundred and eighty-seven thousand, Seven hundred- and Ninety-two naira, fifty-six kobo only (N264,455,587,792.56).
Speaking on the unprecedented revenue generated for the month, Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu informed that the feat is the highest monthly collection in the history of the Command which brings total revenue generated from January to October 2024 to the tune of One trillion, eight hundred and seventy-five billion, three hundred and sixty-two million, three hundred and sixty-nine thousand, two hundred and fourteen naira, four kobo (NI,875,362,369,214.4) higher than the Nine hundred and thirty-one billion, one hundred and twenty-three million, nine hundred and ninety-eight thousand, two hundred and thirteen naira, eighty-eight kobo (N931,123,998,213.88) generated in the corresponding period in the year 2023, showing 101% increase over last year’s revenue figure.
Comptroller Olomu said, despite remarkable decline in the volume of trade, the Command has successfully blocked leakages, achieved maximum collection of revenue as evidenced in its monthly activities and is hopeful of meeting and even surpassing it’s target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds down.
He equally informed that the Command successfully made over thirty-six (36) seizures of various items ranging from used clothings, frozen poultry product, Tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other controlled substances from January 2024 to date.
These seizures, according to him, are valued at over N1.5 billion.
In his words, “Today, on the instruction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, we shall be handing over six (6) containers carrying falsely declared and unwholesome pharmaceutical and controlled products to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
“This handover underscored the robust inter-agency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and sister government agencies in the port. It further demonstrates our ability to prevent illicit importation from entering the Nigerian market through the port.
“As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing the import and export of cargo that could undermine their well-being and security. These medical importations have expired, while others are not evaluated by NAFDAC and could cause damages to Nigerians, if consumed, the content of these containers contravene the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (CET) and section 233 of the NCS Act 2023. Some of the contents are unapproved dosage of tramadol, cough syrup with codeine, injections and more”.
On trade facilitation tools, the Command’s Helmsman posited that Apapa Command is on the verge of migrating to new tech tools while it maximizes the benefits of the existing ones.
“Like I mentioned in other fora, the Nigeria Customs service Management is driving a modern and paperless system and here in Apapa we are gearing up to migrate from the old system to a new system while maximizing the benefits of what we have presently. Nevertheless, the command has keyed into trade facilitation tools like AEO and Advanced Ruling to ensure seamless movement of both import and export cargoes,” he stated.
“Furthermore, in line with the Federal Government agenda of Ease of Doing Business, the command operates on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay. We also have an intra government working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies. Equally, we have a wider customs-stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to customs alone are looked into and addressed as and when due.
“It is noteworthy to state that just last week, the command facilitated the first shipment of cargo to Kenya under the AfCFTA regime,” he added.
Comptroller Olomu further informed that stakeholder’s compliance level in Apapa port has increased which testify to the regular interactions the Command have established as directed by the CGC.“I want to specially thank all sister government agencies and our strategic private sector partners for being part of the success we are celebrating today. Their contributions have been invaluable and the impacts are evident in our scorecard.“I hereby invite you to see the seizures as we formally hand over to NAFDAC and NDLEA. These seizures should serve as a deterrent to those involved in any form of illegality and an encouragement for lawful and compliant traders. Let me remind all our port users that every consignment passing through the NCS in this port will be subjected to thorough examination using scanners and physical means when necessary.“We shall continue to detect false declarations, concealment, under valuation and other unethical practices aimed at evading duties, short changing the government and exposing citizens to unsafe products,” he concluded.
