Sportlight On Apapa Customs Command, the Flagship of the Nigeria Customs Service

Sep 28, 2013 Samuel Special Report 0

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By:Ejuka Anne

Apapa Area 1 command is popularly referred to as the Nigeria Premier port and the flagship of the Nigeria Customs Service. This appellation is because the command handles large volume of cargo per annum and historically collects more revenue than any other command within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Statistics shows that 35% of the Customs revenue collection nationwide comes from Apapa Command. In view of the responsibilities it has been saddled with, the command has always adopted a proactive approach to the fast evolving challenges of the port environment.

The command which is currently headed by Comptroller Edike Charles Eporwei has five concessionaires operating different terminals within the command, the concessionaires are: AP Moller Terminal, ENL Consortium, Eko Support Terminal, Greenview Development Company Limited and Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited which handles both bulk and containerized cargo.

In addition, there are eleven bonded terminals which operate as Inland Container Depots (ICDs) approved to handle containers to help reduce pressure on the main terminal operators. The ICDs are AML, Creaseda, Clarian, Denca, Fano, Migfo, Murphy, PZ, Sapid I & II, Sifax, Michelle and Jof.

The command also has under it a free trade Zone, LADOL Integrated Enterprises which is located at Tarkwa Bay. Here imported goods are received in accordance with guidelines and law setting up the zone.

In line with the world customs organization’s requirements, the Nigeria Customs Service has fine tuned and simplified it clearance procedure to enable it achieve 48 hours cargo clearance time.

This has paved way for the high revenue profile of the command. Between January and August this year, the command generated sum of N166B (One Hundred and Sixty Six Billion Naira).

The breakdown of the revenue generated shows that within the months of January and February, the command generated the sum of about N20.8B and N19.8B respectively. In the months of March, April and May, the command generated the sum of N18.8B, N20.2B and N19.8B respectively. The sum of N21.9B, N19.8B and N25.1B was generated within the months of June, July and August.

Comptroller Edike and his able Lieutenants in the command recognizes the current focus of the Nigeria Customs Service as primarily that of trade facilitation, that is why it operates a robust fast track or Post Clearance Audit Unit, currently about 120 companies have availed themselves of the fast track service.

The command is making all efforts to ensure it maintains its status as a model port in which 48 hours cargo delivery is achievable, encourages synergy between stakeholders and other government agencies by meeting regularly thereby providing a forum to hear and resolve all challenges encountered within the command.

In the area of anti smuggling, the command is making sure that the Nigeria is not flooded with substandard or unwholesome product or any loss of revenue for the Federal Government, hence between January and December 2012, made a total seizure of 20, comprising of 10X20FT containers and 10X40FT containers of different goods such as butteries, used engines, deodorants, car parts, textiles, electronics, furniture, used cars pirated book and table wines with a duty paid value (DPV) of N173, 217, 007.

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