Apapa Customs Sets New Revenue Record with N1.2 Trillion in 7 Months
The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a record-breaking collection of N1,227,431,323,016.24 between January and July 2024.
The announcement was made by the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, who expressed a strong commitment to surpassing existing revenue records.
The Command said it collected an unprecedented N201,853,406,964.61 in the month of July alone, marking the highest monthly revenue in the history of the NCS.
Comptroller Olomu, in a statement signed by CSC Abubakar Usman, Customs PRO for CAC, Apapa, Command on Wednesday, emphasised the significance of this achievement, noting that the seven-month revenue of 2024 has already exceeded the total revenue for the entire year of 2023, which stood at N1,172,414,793,960.32.
Olomu attributed this exceptional performance to the strategic implementation of the Comptroller General of Customs’ thrust of time release study, aimed at facilitating trade without delays.
According to him, this strategy has evidently paid off, as reflected in the substantial increase in revenue collection. “I am optimistic about the possibility of beating this record as we look forward to surpassing it in the months to come,” Olomu stated confidently.
The Comptroller highlighted the significant contributions from various departments within the Command, including the Tariff and Trade Department, the compliance desk, the dispute resolution team, and the Valuation, PCA, CIU, and other units focused on promoting seamless trade.
He noted that these units undergo daily, weekly, and monthly evaluations to ensure continuous progress and efficiency.
“We are committed to doing more in line with the directives and motivating examples of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,” Olomu remarked, underscoring the Apapa Command’s crucial role in handling the highest volume of trade for the NCS and collecting the highest revenue.
This responsibility comes with heightened expectations from both the management of the service and the government.
In a proactive move, Comptroller Olomu met with stakeholders at the port before the commencement of nationwide protests to assure them of the Customs’ availability for work during the period, further strengthening port users’ confidence.
He urged Apapa port users to engage only in legitimate trade, reaffirming the Command’s dedication to detecting all forms of concealment and minimising revenue leakage.
The Apapa Customs’ outstanding performance sets a new benchmark in revenue collection and reinforces the pivotal role of the NCS in boosting revenue generation towards revitalising the nation’s economic landscape.
