According to a statement signed on Thursday by the Commands Spokesperson, Nwala, Nkeiruka Ijeoma, the Command said it is optimistic that with the rollout of the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) in Apapa, which is expected to block all revenue leakages as well as the repairing of the Apapa axis roads, the Command will build on her revenue profile in the months ahead.
“In anti-smuggling, the command in the first quarter recorded four seizures of 4×40 ft containers of controlled drugs including tramadol in excess of approved milligrams. The duty paid the value of these (4x40ft) containers is put at N110, 016, 524. 00.
“In the area of Export, the Command had in the first quarter of 2018 recorded a total of about 280,000 metric tons of various exports with a total FOB value of $115,093,562 US dollars.
“The Customs Area Controller, Jibril Musa has continued to reinvigorate all strategies and mechanisms put in place for the effective and efficient implementation of the Federal Government’s Executive order on the Ease of Doing Business.
“It is worthy of note to mention that the NCS is the lead Agency in the implementation of the Presidential mandate and Apapa Area Command selected as the pilot command had since created the Central Examination Centre (CEC) where all stakeholders involved in cargo clearance Conduct examination at an agreed time with reports imputed almost immediately.
“This synergy/interfacing had paid off remarkably as consignments with no record of infractions are released within 24hours while those with infractions are referred to dispute resolutions committee for further interventions/investigations.
“The CAC has pledged his resolve to keep strengthening the already robust working relationship/collaboration among all agencies of government for an enhanced international trade facilitation. Within the period under review, he played host to different high- level Government delegations from within and outside the country with a view to promoting efficiency and facilitation of trade in the country.
“These include; the Senate Committee on Customs led by its Chairman Sen. Hope Uzodimma, a delegation from Japanese Customs led by the Japan ambassador to Nigeria, National Committee on trade facilitation led by its Chairman Mr A. M. Abubakar, New Commander Nigeria Navy Clearance Agency, NAFDAC Director in charge of ports inspection Prof. S. B. Adebayo and a delegation from NTA.
“Others who visited the command include one of the NCS reform champions, DC Tony Analogue who sensitized officers on revised government fiscal policy in line with the Presidential executive order and the new palletization policy.
“Relatedly, the command also played host to the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in- charge of Excise industrial incentive and free trade zone (EII&FTZ, DCG Iferi Patience (P.hD) who visited the LADOL Free Trade Zone to ascertain the compliance level to the provisions of laid down regulations on Free Trade Zone Concessions,” the Command explained in the statement.