Declares Zero Tolerance for Non-Compliance

Non-Compliant importers and exporters could be in for a hard time this season as the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Customs Command and his colleague at Tin Can, Compt.  Adekunle Oloyede have strategized to beat cheating, lying and dishonest importers at their game.

Sources at both strategic Commands told our reporters that the Controllers are not taking anything for granted as they have briefed their officers and men to be fully alert and observant as the festive season usually witness increased commercial activities across sectors of the economy.

We gathered that there is increased operational alertness at the Apapa and Tin Commands as drills and grills are carried out daily to intensify officer’s preparedness to tackle the operational demands of the seasons.

We are reliably informed that the focus by both CACs is to ensure that not a dime of government revenue is lost under any guise.

Also, ensuring that no prohibited item enter the country is another major concern which the Apapa and Tin Can Customs Comptrollers are very intent on as they have declared zero tolerance for any breach or infraction by port users within their operational areas/commands.

“There has been increased vigilance, top notch scrutiny and heightened alertness by officers at Apapa and Tin Can in the past months, the Controllers are on top of operations and non-complaint importers have to change their ways or they will be badly bruised” an agent said.

Recall that the Apapa Command generated N522.4 billion representing a 42.54 percent growth in the first six months of the year compared to the N366.5 billion collected same period of 2021.

The Customs Area Controller of Apapa, Comptroller Malanta Yusuf, disclosed that in line with the Federal Government’s effort to diversify the economy through non-oil export, his Command recorded an increase in export of non-oil commodities of 2.5 million metric tonnes, above the 540 metric tonnes in the year 2021.

He told the media that the Free-on-Board, FOB, value for the exports rose to $138 million in 2022 from $1.6 million in 2021.

“This feat was made possible because of our officers’ resilience in ensuring identified revenue leakages have been mitigated while upping the level of compliance by the importers/stakeholders in the clearance value chain” Malanta said.

“Nevertheless, we have been able to overcome them as we put into force Article 2 of the trade facilitation agreement through continuous engagement and consultations with the relevant stakeholders which led to updates and upgrades of the service to address some of these challenges.”

On his part Compt. Oloyede said between January and June 2022, the command collected a total sum of N274. 320bn a figure which he said represented a 27.50 percent increase from what the command collected within the same period in 2021.

According to him, the command recorded an outward throughput in export cargo of 138, 245.50 metric tons, representing an increase by 73 percent from 100, 500 recorded in 2022.

“With a free on board of N100 447, 304, 814.00 this represents an increase of 69percent from N66, 294, 630,421.00 recorded in the fiscal year of 2022,” Oloyede said.

From all indications, Controllers Malanta and Oloyede are not smiling as their focus on operational excellence and revenue drive seems paramount on their administrative and enforcement agenda.