Pearl Ngwama
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has announced a revenue generation of N227,347,046,233.53 from January to June, 2020, representing an increase of N24,082,991,550.84 which translates to 10.59 per cent within the same period in 2019 when it recorded N203.64 billion.
The Command Comptroller, Mohammed Abba-Kura, in media briefing held in Apapa Thursday noted that despite the challenge of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Apapa Area Command has maintained its tempo at ensuring that maximum revenue is collected in addition to trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling.
He said there had been a steady improvement in revenue collection all through the half year except for the month of May which recorded a decline of about N3.531 billion when compared to same period in 2020.
On the revenue profile, Abba-Kura reiterated that the Command’s collective resolve to enforce the federal government Fiscal Policy measures had yielded the desired results.
“Equally, our secondary layers of checks and balances have contributed immensely in recovering lost revenues that escaped the first layer in one way or the other,” he added.
Commenting on forfeiture of goods improperly imported, the Comptroller disclosd that the Command seized a total of 142 containers of various items worth N15.904 billion.
Some of the items include exotic vehicles including ne 2018 Rolls Royce and 2019 Lamborghini Huracane Sports Car.
Others include pharmaceuticals, bags of rice, used clothing, vehicles, tyres, shoes, vegetable oil, packaging materials, detergents, candy milk, cigarette fitter, rug and textile materials.
He therefore, warned all importers, exporters and their agents to heed to the stipulated import and export guidelines and procedures as well as make sincere declarations to avoid forfeiture of consignments to the federal government.
“Until you adhere strictly to the guidelines and procedures, we shall not relent in enforcing our laws as empowered by CEMA CAP C45, LYN 2004 as embedded,” Abba-Kura warned.
“In addition to seizing these goods, we have equally invoked the provisions of Section 167 of CEMA which deals with detention, seizure and condemnation of goods. All the seized items have been condemned by a Court of competent jurisdiction ‘Federal High Court’ and have now become the properties of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he stated.
In the area of Export trade, he revealed that goods worth N52,369,506,770.90 (Free On Board Value) had been exported from Nigeria, adding that the total tonnage of these goods stood at 1.642 million tones with FOB value of $171,142,178.99.
The exported goods according to the Comptroller include agricultural products, mineral resources and steel bars among others.
Photo: Comptroller Mohammed Abba-Kura
