The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, has generated N87.8 billion in August, according to its Comptroller, Malanta Yusuf.
Yusuf, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos, noted that the remarkable feat was the first in the history of the command.
He added that the command’s revenue collection from January to August was N526.9 billion, translating to 63.9 percent increase in revenue generation.
“As regards anti-smuggling, 56 containers of various items ranging from tramadol, codeine syrup, used clothing, used tyres, tomato paste, unregistered pharmaceuticals, unprocessed wood and other sundry items were seized.
“These items were seized between the months of January and August, and had a Duty Paid Value of over N28.3 billion,” he said.
He added that notable among the seized items was a container suspected to be laden with sophisticated factory fitted concealment of illicit drugs in marble polishing machinery.
Yusuf said that the container which arrived on a vessel consigned to Home Page Global Resources Ltd. of Oyinkola Close, Isolo, Lagos, was said to be from Lebanon and declared as marble polishing machine.
“The high level concealment was detected with the help of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), snifter dogs and laser machine deployed to cut open various components of the machine.
“This resulted in the discovery of Captagon pills which was carefully hidden in different parts of the machine weighing 74.119kg,” he said.
He explained that Captagon pill was a controlled substance regarded as one of the most dangerous stimulants being used by insurgent and terrorist groups in the Middle East and other war-torn countries.
Yusuf said that the importation contravened Sections 46 and 47 of CEMA CAP C45 LFN, 2004 and Schedule 3, item 13 of the Common External Tariff (CET).
He added that the person connected with the importation was arrested and presently undergoing interrogation to unravel his collaborators.
“The drug and the suspect have been handed over to the NDLEA for safe custody, further analysis, ascertain the street value, interrogation and possible prosecution.
“Accordingly, the command has launched full-scale investigation with a view to fish out persons involved in this illicit importation,” he said.
The federal government recently lauded the Apapa Area Command of the NCS for the unprecedented N366 billion revenue generated within six months in 2021.
Chairman of Customs Revenue Monitoring Committee of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Adekunle Wright, gave the commendation during an official visit to the command in Lagos.
Yusuf, during a press briefing that coincided with the visit, said the figure represented 61 per cent increase compared to the N227 billion recorded in the first half of 2020.
Wright said: “With this level of development, we have hope now that the price of crude oil is going down. This is our own oil, and we thank him for the brilliant performance that he has continued to bring up. We are on a working tour and we have met these records that this is the flagship of the Nigeria Customs Service and the controller is doing very well.”
The NCS, Apapa Command, Lagos, had disclosed in April this year that it generated over N159.58 billion in the First Quarter of 2021.
Yusuf, who disclosed this at a media briefing, said the revenues were receipts from customs duty, contraband seizures and other charges.
He said the amount represented a 44.8 per cent increment on duty collection when compared to the 2020 figure of over N110 billion of the same corresponding months of January to March.
“The difference recorded was made possible because of robust stakeholders’ engagement, officers’ resolve in discharging their duties and increased level of compliance in the trade’s zone treaties,” he said.
Yusuf said that as regards anti-smuggling measures, within two months of assuming leadership, the command made significant seizures of 23 containers of various banned items.
