The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has announced a remarkable revenue collection achievement, totaling N540,431,401,641 from January to July 2023.
This noteworthy accomplishment was attributed to measures taken to prevent revenue leakage, combat duty evasion, and enhance due diligence, all while adapting to a reduced trade volume environment.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Mohammed Auwal, who recently concluded his tenure as the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, highlighted this achievement during a farewell session with senior officers of the command.
Speaking about the command’s accomplishments, Auwal emphasized the crucial role of compliance in fostering port efficiency and success.
The record revenue collection was lauded by Auwal as an outcome of a collective effort to prevent the influx and exit of prohibited items, including arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs, through the Apapa port.
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The command’s commitment to inter-agency synergy and intelligence sharing was underscored as a vital strategy in combating criminal activities that exploit ports for unlawful purposes.
Auwal commended the dedication and cooperation of Officers, other government agencies, and members of the Apapa Port Community throughout his tenure.
He specifically highlighted the impressive revenue collection of N119,049,235,263 achieved in July 2023, which marked the highest monthly collection in the command’s history. This surpassed the previous highest monthly collections of N95 billion recorded in January and August of 2022.
The newly promoted Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs was officially decorated with his rank on Monday, July 31, 2023, by the Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in a ceremony held in Abuja.
Auwal emphasized the importance of compliance as a fundamental principle that serves the interests of both government and private sector stakeholders. He called on importers, agents, and freight forwarders to make sincere declarations, avoid smuggling, and adhere to regulations in order to facilitate seamless cargo movement and contribute to the potential of Apapa port as a key trade hub in West and Central Africa.
The accomplishment of the Apapa Area Command in revenue collection underscores the significance of robust compliance measures in sustaining efficient port operations and boosting national economic growth.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
