The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Port Command has recorded a historic revenue collection of N1.87 trillion from January to October 2024, marking a 101% increase over the N931.1 billion generated during the same period in 2023.

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Port Command, shared this milestone at a press briefing on Monday, November 4, 2024, attributing the success to rigorous enforcement and anti-leakage strategies despite a decline in trade volume.

In October alone, the Apapa Command achieved its highest-ever monthly collection with N264.5 billion. Comptroller Olomu expressed optimism about surpassing the annual target of N2.2 trillion by year-end, driven by strengthened revenue collection mechanisms.

Olomu emphasized ongoing trade facilitation initiatives within the command, which include the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, Advanced Ruling for smoother cargo clearance, and weekend operations to reduce delays. Additionally, the command has fostered collaboration with other government agencies, enhancing efficiency and supporting Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business agenda. Recently, Apapa Command facilitated its first shipment to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, a notable step in expanding Nigeria’s trade footprint within Africa.

As part of its anti-smuggling operations, the command has intensified inspections to prevent the importation of prohibited goods. On the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Olomu announced the handover of six containers of expired or misdeclared pharmaceuticals, including unapproved doses of tramadol and codeine-based cough syrup, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). These unregistered products, which could pose health risks to Nigerians, were seized as part of a broader effort to ensure public safety.

Since January, the command has made over 36 seizures of restricted goods such as used clothing, frozen poultry, and controlled substances, with an estimated value exceeding N1.5 billion.

Comptroller Olomu commended stakeholders for improved compliance, attributing this progress to regular engagement with private sector partners and sister government agencies. He reaffirmed the command’s dedication to stringent cargo examination, using both scanning and physical inspections to uncover false declarations, undervaluation, and other practices that compromise government revenue and public safety.