Customs Worries Over Revenue Collection On Export, Intercepts 28 Containers, Rakes N55bn In March

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday, disclosed that Nigerian exports may encounter some level of hiccups at the moment following the recent directive by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on out board cargoes on dedicated terminal.

 

 

Recall that as part of efforts to improve access into, and service delivery at the Lagos Ports Complex and the Tin Can Island Port, the Authority  announced a 14-day  suspension of export receipts at both ports and all satellite truck parks, with effect from Monday, March 22, 2021.

 

This development was necessitated by the need for consultations with export cargo stakeholders, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council(NEPC) on the harmonisation of procedures required of owners of this category of cargo.

 

 

 

But the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta noted the period of the directive from the authority might have affected the revenue of export under the period under review.

 

While reacting on the development during a courtesy visit by  members of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), Malanta explained that “We have a problem with export and one of the problem is that export will now be diversified in the sense that the authority is devising a very good method of having  bonded terminals were export declaration will take place.

 

 

” All you need to do is take  your consignment and move straight to the port and you know that export has been stop for sometime , unless essential goods, but I can’t get the figure recorded on export for now”,he said.

 

 

The Controller noted  that a total of 28 containers falsely declared were intercepted in the last two months.

 

 

 

Comptroller Yusuf who explained that the command may record over N55 billion as revenue for the month of March 2021 ,  reiterated that despite the lull in international trade and commerce, the flagship command of customs has recorded the highest revenue collection in the  history of Apapa Customs.

 

 

According to him, the command has already recorded a whooping N53 billion as at Tuesday but affirmed that before the close of work on Wednesday, there were indications that revenue collection might surpass N55billion.

 

He also maintained that the anti smuggling unit of the command has intensified efforts, adding that 28 containers laden with contrabands were impounded in the last two months.

 

Giving a vivid background on items intercepted, Comptroller Yusuf said tramadol, codeine, foreign parboiled rice, pharmaceutical products were among the commodities intercepted in the 28 containers.

 

He expressed optimistic that revenue generation at the command would get better after the Easter  celebration.

 

On the recent report that the command is frustrating E-Call up, he wondered how the command could alter an electronic system that is not in any way connected with its operations.

 

He believed that the accusers are either ignorant of the operations of Customs or just being mischievous.

 

He averred that E-Call up has come to stay but added that a new system would always have an initial teething problem but that patience and consistence are required to achieve success with the system.

 

By Roland Ekama