COVID-19: Apapa Customs rakes N39.8bn revenue in April

Despite the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on ever sector of the economy, the Apapa Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has recorded impressive performance in revenue collection for the Federal Government.

The report reaching us now reveals that the Command generated a huge sum of over N39.8billion into government coffers in April, 2020, notwithstanding the challenges facing the nation’s economy at the moment.

This remarkable revenue generation in April is coming only a month after the same Command raked in over N110.2billion from January to March, 2020.

Speaking on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, CAC, of Apapa Command, Comptroller Abba-Kura,
the Public Relations Officer, Nkeiruka Nwala, said the amount shows an increase of over N2.5billion, compared to N37.3 billion realised the same period in 2019.

Nwala, who is a
Deputy Superintendent of Customs, attributed the Command’s whopping revenue collection to measures put in place by the CAC, to enhance trade facilitation and boost revenue collection despite the pandemic.

The measures, she said include appropriate application of import and export guidelines to enhance trade facilitation at Apapa, which is known as the premier port in the country.

Others include willing compliance by stakeholders in trade related matters, as well as ability of the Command to maintain a good working collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the port.

Her words, “The CAC and Officers of the Command are fully on ground carrying out the functions of trade facilitation, revenue collection for government, while at the same time being vigilant to ensure that prohibited items are not smuggled into the country through the seaport”.

Our correspondent learnt that officers at Apapa Command are working hard and keeping the premier port afloat, in line with the Executive Order of government to ensure that the seaports are open despite the coronavirus epidemic.

More so, the Command is working tirelessly to facilitate legitimate trade in line with global best practice, while supressimg illicit trade within its area of coverage.

In carrying out its duties, the Command maintains strict adherence to government directives on social distancing, use of sanitisers and regular hand- washing to curtail the spread of coronavirus.