Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba
—– as the flagship command grosses N489b in Q1
By fabulous reports
The Apapa command of the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to live up to its status as the Customs’ cash cow as it garnered the sum of N489,614,095,022.15 in the first three months of the year.
The amount, which was 100 percent higher than the N212.5b collected in the corresponding period of 2023, was 36.3 percent of the total earnings of the service in the first quarter of 2024 which stands at N1, 347,675,608,972.75.
In a press statement signed by Abubakar Usman, the Chief Superintendent of Customs and the Public Relations officer of the command, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, commended the officers and port stakeholders for their cooperation towards the attainment of the laudable feat and called for sustained compliance by government and private sector stakeholders.
According to the statement, Comptroller Jaiyeoba reminded them that the Apapa Command of the NCS is playing a critical role towards the realisation of the N5.7tr annual target of the NCS in 2024 and as such all hands should be on deck to achieve it.
“The almost N 2 trillion target the command is expected to collect in 2024 is attainable through diligently abiding by the service books of instructions like the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023, government import/export prohibition lists, Common External Tariff and Federal Government approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)” the Customs chief said.
While thanking the officers for their punctuality, diligence, and non-compromise in the discharge of their responsibilities, Jaiyeoba reminded them of the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and Customs Management confidence vested in them.
The CAC reminded them that the present customs management has created room for multiple benefits for those who comply with the rules.
He stated that the recently launched AEO is one of such benefits.
Jaiyeoba described the command’s first quarter collection as a bold step towards the realisation of the target and reminded all port users about the importance of compliance, which, according to him, comes with multiple benefits.
“I want to urge all stakeholders in Apapa Port to keep supporting us in achieving an efficient system where everyone plays by the rules to achieve smoother, seamless, and faster import/export cargo clearance
“Making honest declaration puts the declarant at a vantage position to have a credible reputation and enjoy the benefits that come with earned integrity such as fast track and possible migration to the authorised economic operator(AEO)
” Such attitude of compliance saves time and money as examination officers would find the cargo less cumbersome to process and other units of the service including sister government organisations would not need to flag such cargo for seizure or arrest of the importers/exporters. The cargo gets cleared on time, and payments for penalties after demand notices are not necessary as no DN is issued on compliant import/export.
” I will continue my weekly engagement of stakeholders at various levels to sustain the tempo of our achievements and consolidate on the gains from regular enlightenment of every member of the port community.
“As we step into the second quarter to end the first half of 2024, I am convinced we will do better in revenue collection, facilitate more trade through our port and prevent smuggling under any guise,” the CAC said.
It is on record that the 2024 revenue target of the Apapa Customs put at about N2 trillion is 35.1 percent of the total revenue target of the whole service for the year put at N5. 7 trillion
