The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded another feat in its revenue generation drive as it generated N11.3bn in a day in November.
The tremendous achievement, which was recorded on November 22, 2023, surpassed the existing highest daily collection record of N10bn which was achieved on August 3, 2023.
According to a press statement issued in Lagos by CSC Abubakar Usman, Customs Public Relations Officer, the Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command described the collection as a fallout of teamwork, system audit, compliance and zero compromise.
CAC Jaiyeoba who urged his officers and men to sustain the tempo of hard work, expressed optimism in meeting revenue target for the year.
He said the command has been more focused on its mandate and collected N135bn in October, which presently is the highest monthly collection in its history.
According to the CAC, the recent daily and monthly revenue collection achievements should be a motivation for officers to do more to justify the confidence reposed in the service by the Federal Government and meet the expectations of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in the areas of revenue collection, legitimate trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling.
The CAC also urged members of the Apapa Ports community like importers, licensed customs agents, chandlers, haulage operators, and freight forwarders to see compliance and obedience to laws as part of their civic responsibility as citizens.
He reiterated that his office is open for dialogue and suggestions on ways to improve customs service delivery and achieve federal government’s objectives.
Comptroller Jaiyeoba lauded the various federal government’s agencies for their cooperation while describing customs relationship with them as excellent, all geared towards realizing government’s goals.
“We are very optimistic about meeting our target for the year. Even though, from the initial part of the year, it was not what was expected but from what we have been recording in the last 2 months, I am very optimistic that we will be able to get there,” he said.
The Customs boss emphasized, “I keep telling some of my surbodinates, who want to be discouraged, that it is not over until it is over. I believe it is achievable. What we need is the willpower and the willpower is there. I know that by the end of the year, we will have cause to celebrate”.
He revealed, “My counsel to sister agencies is that they stick to their standard operating procedures, and I want to put on record that other security agencies have been cooperating with us”.
According to him, “The issue is just with these non-governmental organizations, and we will continue to tell them let’s play the game by the rules. Whether you are an agent or licensed chandler, there is a condition attached to your license. The condition for every operator is spelt out. If we all play according to the rules of the game, there will be less friction, and we will be able to achieve a secured port environment”.
“I keep telling people that we are working because the port is secured .The onus is not only on some of us, but all of us. We should all be able to do what we need to do to secure the port. An agent can discover that some of their counterparts are doing things that can undermine the security of the port. They should let us know so that we will address it right from the beginning before it causes a problem to everyone”, the CAC added.
