The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area 1 Command, said it handled 6.4 million metric tons of cargo worth $68.5 million (N28.2 billion) in 2022.
The Command also disclosed that it collected a total of N1.022 trillion in revenue, which is more than one-third of the N3.1 trillion target set by the Federal Government for the Service.
The Command’s Customs Area Controller, CAC, Yusuf Malanta, revealed this while briefing journalists on the Command’s activities for last year, explaining that the Command also seized 157 containers with Duty Paid Value, DPV, worth N14.4 billion during the same period under review.
He also stated that the Command arrested 60 suspects in connection with some of the seizures, noting that the suspects are being investigated and prosecuted by other government agencies to whom we turned them over.
“It will be remembered that from the second quarter of last year, the industry has experienced a backdrop in-trade, occasioned by fluctuation in exchange rate and a sharp drop in the purchasing power of consumers, which made trade unpredictable,” said the Customs boss.
“However. with all the above-mentioned setbacks in the Clearance value chain, the command was able to collect revenue to the tune of N1.022 trillion as revenue for the year 2022.
“This is 16.07% more than the N870.3 collected in 2021. The Command has increased its anti-smuggling operations by leveraging its technological infrastructure to ensure that illicit trade that threatens national security and the well-being of society is detected and controlled before it enters our society.
The Command has worked hard to go above and beyond its capabilities in order to ensure synergy and collaboration with other port stakeholders in order to combat the threat of illicit importation.
“In the year under review, a total number of one hundred and 157 containers with a duty paid value DPV of N14.4 billion were seized, as against 102 containers with DPV of N31.8 billion seized in the year 2021.
“On export trade, the command recorded a total of $68.5 million FOB value with a naira equivalent of N28.2 billion of nonoil commodities with a total tonnage of 6.4 million Metric tonnes exported through Apapa port, in line with the Federal Government’s diversification of the economy.” Steel bars, agricultural produce such as hibiscus, sesame seeds, cocoa, cashew nuts, ginger, soya beans, and mineral products were among the items exported through Apapa Port in 2022.
“A total of 60 suspects have been arrested in connection with some of the seizures and are at various stages of investigation and prosecution by other government agencies we handed over,” he said.
