Nigeria Customs Officials should count themselves lucky, as they barely escaped and inferno in Gbaji Checkpoint along Lagos Badagry Express Way, leading to popular Seme Border Post. The unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday, 13th of January 2021.

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The cause? Investigation reveals that a volkswagen Golf car had lost control, descending from Gbaji Bridge and eventually colluded with an incoming motorcycle, leading to explosion. Another car, a Toyota Camry, was burnt to a crisp along the Nigeria Customs Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ checkpoint. When Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service Seme Area Command ASC I Hussaini Abdullahi Confirmed the incident. He stated that

“Luckily, no life was lost apart from minor injuries sustained by the occupants in the aforementioned vehicles”

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Customs Area Controller Area II Command, Onne Port Rivers State, Comptroller Mohammed Auwal in a press release, reported a revenue of ₦118,959,214,999.53k

He added that this figure is ₦11,623,072,175.04 higher than the ₦107,336,142,824.29 collected from January to December of 2019.
He stated ‘This increase in collection is a fallout of due diligence and zero tolerance for compromise on the part of our officers and men, who were always at work in full observance of the Covid19 protocols – hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, wearing of masks, avoiding handshakes and strictly observing physical distancing.
He said that under his watch, the Command achieved ₦13 billion-naira monthly collection for the first time in its 37 years history.
He added that on enforcement and anti-smuggling, a total of 37 seizures with total duty paid value of ₦1,008,266,282.53 was made. Two suspects were also said to have been arrested in connection with some of the seizures.

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‘We recorded a total quantity of 2,577,803.31 metric tonnes of cargoes with free onboard value (FOB) of $63,497,688.03.
We also recorded ₦278,883,780.13 under the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS).
Gentlemen of the press, for clarity purpose FOB stands for “Free On Board”, it is a shipping term used to indicate the value of goods or cargo on-board a ship before transportation.
The NESS is a Federal Government designed scheme to ensure that the price, quality, and quantity of goods being exported from Nigeria are to the specifications of the buyer, systematically prevent capital flight and ensure that Nigerian products maintain a competitive advantage in relation to other exporting countries in the world’. He added.
He appreciated the media for their quick response to their calls even at short notice.

Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Mohammed Abba-Kura held a press briefing on 12th December 2020 at the customs house, Apapa Lagos.

He reported that the command between the months of January to December, 2020, have collected revenue to the sum of Five hundred and Eighteen billion, Forty-six million, Eight hundred and thirty-two thousand, Sixteen naira and Eighty-four kobo (N518,046,832,016.84) and has remitted to the federation and non-federation accounts of the Federal Government.

The report shows an increase by Ninety-four billion Three hundred and seventy-nine thousand, Eight hundred and thirty-five
thousand, Three hundred and fifty-two naira and Fifty-three kobo (N94,379,835,352.53).This indicates a 22.3% increase compared to 423.6 billion in 2019.

Speaking on smuggling, the Comptroller stated that,

“In line with the provision of extant circulars; trade guidelines and enforcement of government fiscal policy measures, the Command was able to further strengthened its anti-smuggling operations against economic saboteurs, through credible intelligence driven operations and continuous partnership with other relevant agencies for effective port management to stem their illegitimate activities”.

He added that the command a total of three hundred and eighteen (318) seizures with Duty Paid Value of Twenty-one billion, One hundred and ninety-six million, Eight hundred and six thousand, Six hundred and thirty-seven naira (N21,196,806,637.00) which is almost three times the seizures for the year 2019 which was recorded at 112  and total duty paid value of N12.5 billion.

Below  is a list of seized items:

• 133 containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals including tramadol
•  58 containers of parboiled rice
•  30 containers of vegetable oil
• 31 containers of used clothes and shoes
• 13 containers of used tyres, and other sundry items.

He reported a boost in the export unit in terms of its activities. which rose from two hundred and sixty-two thousand and ninety-five metric tons (262,095) in 2019 to one million, three hundred and eleven thousand, three hundred and sixty-five metric tons (1,311,365) in 2020. The Free on Board (FOB) value for the exported items equally moved up from $132,760,512.94 million US dollars to $340,884,102.99 million within the period under review. The naira equivalent of the exported items is estimated at One hundred and four billion, Three hundred and ten million, Five hundred and thirty-five thousand, Five hundred and fourteen (104,310,535,514.00) naira only at 306 naira per US Dollar. Items exported include steel bars, agricultural and mineral products among others.

He concluded by saying “It is instructive to note that these unprecedented achievements were made possible as a result of our Officers doggedness and tireless commitment to their duties, despite the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging economies all over the world. Nonetheless, as we look forward to a prosperous and glorious year ahead, the Command has taken bold initiatives to ensure the collection of appropriate revenue by creating an enabling environment for legitimate businesses to thrive. On this note, on behalf of the Officers and men of Apapa Area Command, we extend our profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and his management team for their continuous support and encouragement.”

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