APAPA CUSTOMS ON REVENUE COLLECTION RAMPAGE, HITS N2.01TRILLION

APAPA CUSTOMS ON REVENUE COLLECTION RAMPAGE, HITS N2.01TRILLION

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD, fsi, Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area One Command, NCS

The Apapa Area One Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has in an alarming manner, continued to wax stronger in one of its core mandates of revenue collection undertaking, as it cruises to achieve her gigantic revenue target of N2.2Trillion for the year 2024.

The command under the watch of the present Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Babatunde Olomu PhD, fsi, has hit an all-time revenue collection crescendo with the recent attainment of over Two Trillion Naira (N2.01trillion) as at November 19, 2024.

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, fsi who, according to the press release made available to the media by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Abubakar Usman, made the disclosure while addressing officers and men on a parade on Wednesday November 20, 2024 said the command aims at achieving its N2.2tr target for this year by the end of this month ahead of December.

The no-nonsense Area Comptroller, who had since his advent at the command continued to display a rare managerial skills in piloting the affairs of the command and achieving humongous successes not only in its revenue collection mandate, but also in the anti-smuggling and trade facilitation campaigns of the command, however, said that his led command is drawing inspiration from the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,MFR who announced the total collection of N5.07tr by the service on last Tuesday, November 12^th 2024, at the just concluded CGC Conference in Abuja.

According to the highly elated Comptroller Olomu, Apapa Port Command plays a critical role in the overall performance of the service nationwide, by the contribution of about 40% (forty percent) of the entire N5.07tr total target of the service that has been met so far, which underscores the high expectations and responsibility on the command.

The CAC urged officers to align with the outstanding examples set by CGC Adeniyi in revenue collection, trade facilitation, uncompromising enforcement and sustained stakeholder engagement in the service and national interest.

He charged the officers to keep the trajectory of good revenue and enforcement records sustained and ensure that seizures made from smugglers should be backed with suspects for prosecution. He added that arresting smugglers with their wares would cause greater impact in the fight against smuggling.

Comptroller Olomu used the opportunity of the parade to update the officers on important highlights from the CGC Conference. He urged them to imbibe the spirit and letter of the theme, which was “Engaging Traditional and New Partners With Purpose”.

He said the NCS 2024 CGC Conference theme aligns with that of the World Customs Organisation which seeks to leverage on achievable gains from cordial relationships across organisations and individuals to achieve customs goals

He listed some outcomes from the conference which include sustenance of diligent import and export cargo examination with the deployment of hundred percent physical examination where necessary; granting of access to enforcement unit officers to view the Nigetia Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) platform; and avoidance of Indiscriminate intervention alerts which makes service personnel appear to be working at cross purposes. According to CAC Olomu, NCS is one and should operate and be seen as one.

Other fallouts from the CGC Conference announced by the Area Controller are the banning of commercial activities within customs formations and premises. He listed such activities like the engagement of Point of Sales (PoS) operators around customs offices, and involvement of customs officers in clearing jobs, that is doubling as licensed agents, which conflict with their official mandates

Other messages cascaded from the 2024 CGC Conference announced by Comptroller Olomu are compulsory and routine medical checks for all officers; instituting rewards and honouring outstanding officers for their productivity; development of inter zonal games being put together by the service Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC); fully automation of transire by first quarter of 2025 and the expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) and Advance Ruling (AR) scheme

As reward for hardwork, Comptroller Olomu announced at the parade ground that the command is planning an award night for deserving officers and stakeholders that have contributed to its success in 2024, while he as well gave plaques of award to some units and individuals for excellent discharge of their functions.

The roll call of the honour has the Compliance Unit, which was honoured for the recovery of over N2billion in the last three months. Similarly, efforts of the Revenue Recovery Unit that also prevented the loss of N3b within the last three months was also recognized.

Furthermore, Assistant Comptroller M. Samad received an award from the CAC for due diligence and regular detection of under valuation, while Inspector of Customs Adamu Bashir was honoured with the best dressed and punctual officer by the CAC.