Apapa Customs facilitates N41.6bn exports, generates N159.5 bn in three months

Despite the gridlock rocking the Apapa Port access road, the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it facilitated exportation of cargoes worth N41.6billion in the first quarter of 2021.

The command also generated a whooping N159.5 bilion from importation of raw materials and finished goods in the months under review.

This was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller, Apapa port, Compt. Yusuf Mallanta Ibrahim during a press conference in Lagos yesterday.

Addressing newsmen, Yusuf explained that 28 containers of unregistered pharmaceutical drugs with Duty Paid Value of N1.9billion were also seized in the first quarter of 2021.

He said, “In the first quarter of 2021, export statistics extracted from our system revealed that goods worth N41.6bilion were exported out of the country via Apapa port between January and March 2021.

“These exports include manufactured products such as soaps, textiles, noodles, and agricultural products like cashew nuts, Hibiscus, Sesame seeds and other mineral resources. The total tonnage of the said export goods stood at 116million tonnes with FOB value of $110million.”

Speaking on importation, Yusuf said, ” It represents 44.8% increment in duty collection when compared to the last year figure of over N110bn in the same corresponding period. The difference recorded was made possible because of robust stakeholders’ engagement, officers resoluteness in discharging their duties and an increased level of compliance in the trader zone.”

In the area of anti-smuggling, the Command seized 28 containers of various items such as unregistered pharmaceuticals like Tramadol, Codeine.

He also said that the command seized containers of used clothing, foreign parboiled rice all with a duty paid value of N1.9billion.

According to the CAC, the seizures were in contravention of the Customs Excise and Management Act (CEMA).

“These seizures were in breach of sections 46, 47, and 161 of CEMA, CAP C45, LFN 2004. These cases are in various stages of investigation.”