CUSTOMS INTERCEPTS EXPIRED PHARMACEUTICALS, FROZEN POULTRY PRODUCTS WORTH N424M
The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has recorded an unprecedented revenue collection of N1,023,663,842,255.63 from January to June 2024.
This was made known during a press briefing with the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu. The press briefing stated below.
"For the first half of 2024, between January-June, the command generated a total of N1,023,663,842,255.63. This shows an increase of 143% above the figures of N421,382,166,378.46 collected in the corresponding period in 2023.
"Whereas this collection is coming despite a sharp reduction in the volume of trade, it is necessary to note that extra measures have been put in place to prevent losses of government revenue.
The comptroller also noted that he set up a revenue recovery committee "comprising of seasoned and dedicated officers with a mandate to carry out more detailed look into areas of leakages, especially in bonded terminals.
"We are applying a blend of intelligence with community relations for better awareness of our operating environment to achieve greater trade facilitation and fight criminality. I have a team of dedicated officers charged with the responsibility of addressing all complaints or disputes within record time before escalation to my office for prompt action.
"It is pertinent to mention that just last week, we uncovered a large quantity of expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals in 3x40ft container numbers TCKU 6928184, MRKU 4422733, MRSU 5550243, and another 3x40ft container nos. MNBU 3934925, MEDU 9107559 and MEDU 9752980 are loaded with 7,580 cartons of frozen poultry products unfit for human consumption, which is against schedule 3 of the revised import prohibition list of the Common External Tariff (CET). These importations violate section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller stated that he had reformed the command's way of treating transires by ensuring more meticulous management of cargoes moving from the mother port to bonded terminals, in line with the CGC's zero tolerance for smuggling.
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