Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that it has facilitated the export of goods worth N272.3 billion through the Apapa port in the first six months of 2021.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Apapa Customs command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta Ibrahim, disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
He stated that the exports included agricultural goods such as sesame seed, ginger, hibiscus flower and other mineral resources.
Ibrahim disclosed that the total tonnage of the said export stood at 1.6 million tones with Freight On Board (FOB) value of $103 billion.
He said that the command took a giant stride in the month of June which yielded an outstanding result in her revenue generation saying, “we are therefore motivated even to do more and more in the next coming months”.
The CAC hinted that the command collected revenue worth N78.4 billion in the month of June 2021, which clearly showed an increase of over 90 percent when compared to the N42.4 billion collected in the corresponding month under review.
He noted that the sustained anti-smuggling campaign of the command and the increased level of compliance had resulted in reduction of smuggling activities throughout the command. 
He disclosed further that, for the period under review, the command recorded 10 seizures of various uncustoms goods such as tomato paste, used clothing, unregistered pharmaceutical drugs, among others, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N442 million.
According to him, “This unprecedented record is a great validation of our new approach to revenue drive. It is also fitting to emphasise here that this volume of revenue has never been recorded in the history of the flagship command of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Consequent upon the above and in line with the provision of extant laws, trade guidelines and enforcement of Government Fiscal Policy, the command was able to strengthen its anti-smuggling operation against economic saboteurs through timely credible intelligence driven network, which led to the seizure of 46 containers between January-June 2021 with Duty Paid Value of N27.6 billion. All these importations are contrary to the provision of sections 46 and 47of Customs and Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004 and Customs and Excise Notices No.1491”.
The Comptroller further stated that the command collected a total of N366 billion for the half year, January–June 2021 which represents 61 percent increase when compared to the N227 billion collected in the first half of 2020.
“This spectacular achievement was made possible by our officers’ resilience and commitment in ensuring collections of appropriate revenue, robust stakeholders’ engagement and seamless facilitation of compliant trade”, he added.
“On this note and on behalf of the officers and men of the command, I would like to extend my profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team for the opportunity, trust, support and encouragement given to us in the course of discharging our responsibilities.
“Finally, I want to use this medium to urge all importers, exporters, customs brokers and freight forwarders to imbibe the culture of compliance as part of their standard operating procedure because it will reduce the time and cost of doing business”, he said.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos