Apapa Customs may hit highest monthly target of N55 billion in March.

..intercepts 2 containers of tramadol, Codeine, 26 containers

Segun Oladipupo

The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday, disclosed that it may realise a record- breaking monthly revenue haul of N55 billion.

The command added that it has seized a total of 28 containers for different infractions by importers within two months.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta stated this in a chat with members of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON).

Comptroller Yusuf explained that despite the lull in international trade and commerce, the command may record over N55 billion as revenue for the month of March 2021 which shall be the highest monthly revenue haul in the command.

The customs boss also disclosed that exportation may encounter some level of hiccups at the moment following the recent directive by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that export cargo should have a dedicated terminal.

According to him, the command has already recorded a whooping N53 billion as at Tuesday but affirmed that before the close of work on Wednesday, there were indications that revenue collection might surpass N55billion.

He also maintained that the anti smuggling unit of the command has intensified efforts, adding that 28 containers laden with contrabands were impounded in the last two months.

Giving a vivid account of items intercepted, Comptroller Yusuf said tramadol, codeine, foreign parboiled rice, pharmaceutical products were among the commodities intercepted in the 28 containers.

He was optimistic that revenue generation at the command would get better after the Easter in May.

On the recent report that the command was frustrating the E-Call up sydtem of NPA, Comptroller Malanta wondered how the command could alter an electronic system that is not in any connected with its operations.

He believed the rumour- mongers were either ignorant of the operations of Customs or just being mischievous.

He noted that the E-Call up has come to stay but added that a new system would always have an initial teething problem but that patience and consistence are required to achieve success with such an innovation.