The Apapa Area One Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced Monday that it has collected over N1.8 trillion in revenue for the first ten months of 2024, marking a 101% increase compared to the N931 billion collected during the same period in 2023. This record-breaking performance includes the highest monthly collection in the command’s history, with N264.4 billion generated in October.
Speaking to reporters in Lagos, the Command’s Area Comptroller, Dr. Babatunde Olomu, expressed optimism that the command is on track to exceed its 2024 revenue target of N2.2 trillion.
In addition to the impressive revenue achievements, the command seized six containers of expired pharmaceutical products, which have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He said “Despite a noticeable decline in trade volume, this command has blocked revenue leakages and maximized collection,” Olomu noted. “From January to October 2024, we generated a total of N1.875 trillion, surpassing last year’s figure by 101%.”
Highlighting the command’s commitment to efficiency, Olomu added that the Apapa Command has embraced trade facilitation tools such as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program and Advanced Ruling. Additionally, the command operates on weekends to expedite cargo delivery, aligning with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiative.
The command recently facilitated the first shipment of cargo to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) regime, reflecting its role in promoting intra-African trade.
Olomu stated the robust collaboration with sister agencies, as six containers of unwholesome and falsely declared pharmaceutical products are to be transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the NDLEA. These items, including unapproved dosages of tramadol and codeine-laced cough syrups, pose health risks and violate Nigeria’s Common External Tariff (CET) Schedule 3 and Section 233 of the NCS Act 2023.
Since January 2024, the command has made over 36 seizures of various prohibited items valued at over N1.5 billion. These include used clothing, frozen poultry, tramadol, and other unregistered pharmaceuticals”.
