The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated N1.02 trillion at its Apapa Area Command in the first half of the year.

The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos on Monday.

He said that the figure represented a 143 per cent increase over the N421.38 billion generated during the same period in 2023.

Mr Olomu highlighted that the agency’s efforts at promoting and facilitating trade were yielding significant results.

“Our efforts have been mainly targeted at preventing revenue losses, improving ease of doing business, and engaging stakeholders,” Mr Olomu said.

He noted that the command generated the amount in spite of a sharp reduction in trade volume.

“We have implemented measures to prevent government revenue loss by using a blend of intelligence and community relations,” he added.

Mr Olomu said that during the review period, the command intercepted 11 containers of regulated items, such as expired drugs, contraband goods, and frozen birds worth N424 million, compared to 42 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.4 billion in the corresponding period of 2023.

“These seizures were made from dishonest importers attempting to smuggle goods into Nigeria,” he stated.

The command uncovered a large quantity of expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals in three 40ft containers.

It also uncovered another three 40ft containers loaded with 7,580 cartons of frozen poultry products unfit for human consumption.

Mr Olomu explained that these smuggled items violated Schedule Three of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET) and Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

He praised the motivation and leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and thanked his men and officers for their hard work.

The CAC attributed the command’s successes to support from sister agencies in the port, such as the Nigeria Police, State Security Service, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Army.

Mr Olomu said that in line with the CGC’s zero tolerance for smuggling, the command has reformed the management of cargoes moving from the mother port to bonded terminals by ensuring more meticulous oversight.

“No cargo is allowed to exit our control without thorough inspection using the scanner,” he noted.

He assured that proper cargo inspection would not be compromised, and the command would continue to make seizures, detentions and arrests where necessary.

This, he added, would help to protect the national economy and prevent Nigerians from exposure to dangerous or unwholesome products like illicit drugs.

(NAN)