CAC Malanta showing some of the seized items to Journalists.
Story by Dili Utomi.
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a huge improvement in its generated revenue. The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Malanta Y.I. revealed this in a press briefing conducted at the Command’s press hall on the 12th of April, the CAC noted that
“The Command has collected revenues to the tune of One hundred and fifty-nine billion, five hundred and eighty-two million, forty-seven thousand, one hundred and thirty-four naira and eleven kobo (N159,582,047,134.11) in the first quarter of the year (Jan-Mar. 2021) as customs duty and other charges”.
More picture as Comptroller Malanta goes around to see the seized items.
Comptroller Malanta noted that the increase “Represents 44.8% increment in duty collection when compared to the last year’s figure of over 110 billion of the same corresponding months, Jan-Mar 2020. The difference recorded was made possible because of robust stakeholders engagement, officers resolute in discharging their duties and an increased level of compliance in the trader’s zone”.
More pictures.
The CAC noted that “In the area of anti-smuggling, Officers and men of the Command are always at alert in enforcing government fiscal policies and facilitation of legitimate trade.
He added by saying that “It may interest you to note that within the two months of assuming leadership, the Command has made significant seizures of 23 containers of various items such as unregistered pharmaceuticals like tramadol/codeine, used
clothing, foreign parboiled rice with a duty paid value of Seven hundred and seventy-three million, eight hundred and nine thousand, six hundred and twenty naira
(N773,809,620.00) between the months of February to March 2021.
However, the total seizure for the first quarter (Jan-Mar 2021) stands at 28 containers with a duty paid value of One billion, eight hundred and seventy-one
million, nine hundred and forty-four thousand, three hundred and seventy naira (N1,871,944,370.00)”
. He noted that “These are all importations in breach of sections 46, 47, 161 of the Customs and Excise Management Act CAP C45 LFN 2004 and schedules 4 & 6 of the Common External Tariff (CET). These cases are in various stages of investigation and you will be briefed from time to time as investigation progresses”.
More pictures.
In the area of export he detailed that “The export statistics extracted from the system revealed that goods worth Forty-one billion, five hundred and fifty-nine million, three hundred and seventy-eight thousand, twenty-nine kobo (N41,559,378,029) have been exported through Apapa port between January-March 2021. These exports include manufactured products such as soap, textiles, noodles, agricultural products such as Cashew nuts, Hibiscus, Sesame seeds and other mineral resources. The total tonnage of the said export stood at 116 million tones with FOB value of One hundred and nine million, six hundred and fifty-five thousand, three hundred and fifty-one US Dollars ($109,655,351.00)”.
The CAC commended sister agencies, the media and all stakeholders for their cooperation and further urged that the cooperation should be made stronger in their bid to be more successful in carrying out their responsibilities.
