At Apapa Ports, Customs Generate N790 billion From Importers in 9 Months

According to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa command, from January to September 2022, importers paid N790 billion to the NCS.

Speaking to journalists recently in Lagos, Compt. Yusuf Malanta, the Customs Area Controller for the Apapa command, claimed that the command has increased its revenue by 29.8% from the N609 billion generated during the same period in 2021.

He claimed that the command also seized illegal substances worth N12.4 billion, including codeine, tramadol, and raw wood.

The lawsuit was brought by Mr. Ayo Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) on behalf of the PDP in response to a Federal High Court decision from September 30, 2022, which declared all of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s actions and activities in her capacity as the head of the APC’s Extraordinary Convention Committee to be illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
Justice Inyang Ekwo has been given the new lawsuit, with the filing number FHC/ABJ/CS/1864/2022, by Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for consideration and adjudication.
According to information obtained, Justice Ekwo set November 22 for the case’s mention and directed that hearing notices be delivered to each of the 53 defendants named by PDP in the lawsuit at their individual addresses.

Yusuf said this in reference to the command’s anti-smuggling initiative: “Anti-smuggling efforts have been one of the command’s key points, especially with the activities of some unrepentant dealers who are always seeking for methods to undermine our system.

“To ensure that illicit trade is being followed before declarations are submitted, the command has strengthened its forensic manifest management to monitor and discover fraudulent transaction through audit trial.

Additionally, the enforcement unit has been strengthened through better communication and the exchange of reliable intelligence with the appropriate government agencies in order to severely curtail smuggling activities.

“The command recorded 145 seizures of various goods with a duty paid value (DPV) of N12.4 billion for the period under review.”

However, the head of customs issued a warning to importers, stating that non-compliant dealers would still be subject to the full force of the law.