The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) handed over six containers containing falsely declared and expired pharmaceutical and controlled products to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Addressing maritime journalists during the handover ceremony, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, said that between January and date, the Command has seized various items ranging from used clothing, frozen poultry products, tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other controlled substances valued at over N1.5 billion.
According to Comptroller Olomu, “Despite the remarkable decline in the volume of trade, this command has been able to block leakages and achieve maximum collection of revenue, as evidenced in our monthly activities.
“From January-October 2024, we generated a total of N1,875,362,369,214.4 higher than the N931,123,998,213.88 generated in the corresponding period in the year 2023, showing a 101% increase over last year’s revenue figure.
“It is instructive to state that our October 2024 collection is N264,455,587,792.56. This is the highest monthly collection in the history of this command. Therefore, we are openly meeting and even surpassing our target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds.
“Like | mentioned In other fora, the Nigeria Customs service Management is driving a modern and paperless system and here in Apapa, we are gearing up to migrate from the old system to a new system while maximising the benefits of what we have presently. Nevertheless, the command has keyed into trade facilitation tools like AEO and Advanced Ruling to ensure seamless movement of both import and export cargoes.
“Furthermore, in line with the Federal Government agenda of Ease of Doing Business, the command operates on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay. We also have an intragovernmental working system where all government agencies work together as a team without compromising the mandates of our respective agencies. Equally, we have a wider customs-stakeholder forum where only issues pertaining to customs alone are looked into and addressed as and when due.
“It is noteworthy to state that just last week, the command facilitated the first shipment of cargo to Kenya under the AfCFTA regime.
In the area of anti-smuggling, on the instruction of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, we shall be handing over six containers carrying falsely declared and unwholesome pharmaceutical and controlled products to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) today.
“This handover further underscores the robust inter-agency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and sister government agencies in the port. It further demonstrates our ability to prevent illicit importation from entering the Nigerian market through the port.
“As a service, we owe Nigerians the duty of preventing the import and export of cargo that could undermine their well-being and security. These medical importations have expired, while others are not evaluated by NAFDAC and could cause damage to Nigerians if consumed.
“The content of these containers contravenes the provisions of Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (CET) and Section 233 of the NCS Act 2023. Some of the contents are unapproved dosages of tramadol, cough syrup with codeine, injections, and more.
“However, from January 2024 to date, we have made well over 36 seizures of various items ranging from used clothing, frozen poultry products, tramadol, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and other controlled substances. These seizures are valued at over N1.5 billion.
On compliance, the stakeholder’s compliance level in Apapa port has increased, and this is a testament to the very regular interactions we have established as directed by the CGC.
“I want to specially thank all sister government agencies and our strategic private sector partners for being part of the success we are celebrating today. Their contributions have been invaluable, and the impacts are evident in our scorecard.
“I hereby invite you to see the seizures as we formally hand over to NAFDAC and NDLEA. These seizures should serve as a deterrent to those involved in any form of illegality and an encouragement for lawful and compliant traders.
“Let me remind all our port users that every consignment passing through the NCS in this port will be subjected to thorough examination using scanners and physical means when necessary. We shall continue to detect false declarations, concealment, undervaluation, and other unethical practices aimed at evading duties, shortchanging the government, and exposing citizens to unsafe products.”
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