In spite of the drop in importation, the Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, said it collected over N1trillion within the first six months of 2024.

Speaking to Newsmen in Lagos, the Area Controller in charge of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu,  said that the command also made seizures of eleven containers comprising prohibited items such as expired and unregistered pharmaceuticals, footwears, used clothing, armored cables, frozen poultry products with a Duty Paid Value of N424.1 million as against 42 seizures with a DPV of N1.4 billion made in the corresponding period in 2023.

Olomu said the command’s efforts at promoting trade facilitation are yielding good results with attendant ease of doing business and prevention of revenue losses.

He added that the command is maintaining closer interactions with sister government agencies and private sector stakeholders, including members of the host communities.

“We are also not leaving anything to chance for economic saboteurs as our non- intrusive inspection (NII) regime is fully in place where scanners are deployed for cargo examination with support of physical examination where and when necessary. This collection is coming despite a sharp reduction in the volume of trade.