Yemisi Izuora
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Customs Command, has processed agricultural export cargoes worth N70 billion in the first quarter of 2023.
Customs Area Controller of Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed, who disclosed this in his three month scorecard in Lagos, said his Command also generated a revenue of N212.5 billion into the Federal Government coffers between January to March 2023.
According to Mohammed, the command processed agricultural goods such as sesame seeds, ginger, hibiscus, mineral resources, steel ingot and others with a total tonnage of 110,448 metric tonnes for export in the first quarter of 2023.
“Statistics from the export report shows that the exported goods are worth N70.2 which is equivalent to Free on Board (FOB) value of $159.8 million.
“Our resolve to enforce government fiscal policies and extant laws to ensure that all import and export consignments transiting through Apapa Port are fully examined has been strengthened through effective collaboration and timely sharing of credible intelligence with sister government agencies in the port” he said.
The controller further revealed he command made seizures of 14 containers comprising of prohibited items such as vegetable oil, footwears, used clothing, unprocessed wood, and tramadol tablets with a Duty Paid Value of N22 billion. within the period under review.
He said the command also uncovered a large quantity of 225mg of tramadol tablets concealed in 2x40ft container numbers TRHU-4758549 and TRHU-6936803 where 143,800,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg were discovered in 720 cartons weighing 10.3 tonnes (10,386kg) that originated from India. This single seizure is valued at N21.6 billion.
“We are on the look-out for those behind such unlawful importation for arrest and very soon we will track them down to face the full wrath of the law. As a Service, we owe Nigenans the duty to prevent this kind of importation from entering the market to safeguard the health of the citizenry,” he said.
Mohammed warned perpetrators of smuggling, duty evasion and other forms of criminality frowned upon by the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) and other extant laws, that Apapa Command will only facilitate legitimate trade.
“Since my assumption of duty here, I have been meeting with various stakeholder groups comprising importers, exporters, licensed agents, freight forwarders, and others. I am happy to note that these meetings are yielding good results and will be sustained in days ahead,” he said