Apapa Customs Cries Out, Says Importation Is Dropping, Revenue Is Falling

From Left:  Deputy Controller In Charge Of Administration, Apapa Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Danaan G.G, Acting Area Commander and DPO Apapa Port CSP Sani Shuaibu And Controller, Apapa Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Charles Edike At The Monthly Stakeholders Meeting Held, Yesterday In Lagos.
Pix By Wale Buraimoh

All is not rosy at the moment at the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, as revenue collection has dropped in the October 2015.

This was disclosed by the Controller in charge of the command, Comptroller Charles Edike during the monthly stakeholders meeting which held at the command in Lagos yesterday.

Comptroller Edike attributed the lull in revenue collection to the Central Bank of Nigeria policy, even as he disclosed that some cargoes at the terminals which serve as remnant are also trapped due to non- issuance of PAAR.

He told stakeholders who were at the meeting that: "The remnant are dwindling, reducing and so this month may not be rosy as in previous months, we also know that some cargoes are trapped in the ports, so many containers are also trapped in the port"

He also stated that some importers tried to circumvent the Pre Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) requirement, saying that the delay gave rise to importers getting to the bank late.

The comptroller disclosed that the command has also introduced a new scheme tagged conditional release for such cargoes which are currently trapped at the Apapa port.

He urged the stakeholders to apply for conditional release with vivid reasons for the application.

He stressed the need for the operators to obtain the PAAR, in order to confirm with the agents are paying more or less. 

The Apapa customs boss noted that Central Bank Nigeria policy, elections that further affected the dwindling revenue drive of the command.

Giving a breakdown of revenue collected Edike disclosed that the month of September recorded a whooping N23.8billion, adding that the period under review is N39.65% above what was collected last year. 

"This month is not too rosy; as at now and we all know the reasons, the train is not moving as it supposed to move, importation is very low and it is dropping as we speak"

"If you do an average comparison between last year and this year you find out that for January we had N19.1billion against N20.7billion"

The meeting was attended by clearing agents, DTI Cafe operators, bankers and other relevant government agencies.

Some of the issues raised by the operators include: alert, valuation , state of the scanners, upgrading of server, fast tract and trade facilitation.