Apapa Customs Intercepts 112 Units Of Containers In 2019

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service said on Friday that a total of 112 units of containerized cargoes were intercepted between January 1st to December 18th 2019, as part of it’s anti smuggling activities.

Speaking at a media briefing on the activities of the command for the year , Customs Area Controller ,Comptroller Mohammed Abba-Kura said in Lagos that the notable boxes intercepted within the period include : pharmaceutical products like tramadol that were imported without necessary approval from the regulatory agency like NAFDAC.

Others , according to him , are tomato paste , vegetable oil ladies fashion foot wears , expired rice, armored glasses without end user certificate and drilling pipes labeled in foreign language.

Abba-Kura stated that the seized containers were in gross violation of the service extant laws import guidelines , adding that the duty paid value of the seizures stood at 12.8 billion naira.

While harping on the revenue generated by the command for the period under review, the customs’ chief disclosed that a whooping N413,732,818,554.19 was collected into the coffers of the federal government ,noting that the figure represents a total 111% of the 2019 annual revenue target.

The Area Controller also noted that there was a high level of compliance on export declaration ,pointing out that within the period under review, the command recorded a total volume of 262,095.09 metric tons of exported goods with Free On Board (FOB) value of $132,760,512.94.

He added that the foreign currency is equivalent of N40,610,070,114.55, stressing that most of the exported items were agricultural and mineral products.

The customs boss also appealed to shippers patronising Apapa port to always ensure that minimum international standard are met before exporting their consignment to avoid the recurrent incidences of returning cargoes after export.

Speaking further, Comptroller Abba-Kura tasked importers of pharmaceutical products to respect and comply with the nation’s guidelines on importation of these products to rid the country of counterfeited and prohibited medicament with its attendant consequence.

He added that the flagship command of the service also trained a total of 400 personnel in general aspect of its operations with a view to maximizing their productivity.

” The results we are seeing today is the product of that training in addition to other mechanism like 24 hours dispute resolution, maintaining an open door policy to address complains , constant engagement with stakeholders as well as support by management of the service and sister agencies operating within the port.”