The Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday said it collected N23.4 billion in January 2016, up from N20.7 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2015.
The Area Controller, Comptroller Willy Egbudin, made the disclosure on the sideline of the monthly stakeholders meeting organised by the command in Lagos.
He urged clearing agents and importers to embrace transparency in all transactions.
Egbudin said that the command collected N288 billion in 2015 in contrast to N301 billion collected in 2014.
He said officers of the command were committed in ensuring that the command achieve its 2016 revenue target.
“We will pray that this year, we should be able exceed N500 billion and that is our expectation. So far, I do not think we are doing badly; even though we are not meeting the target.
“For the month of January this year, we had been able to realise N23.4 billion compared to January last year which was N20.7 billion,’’ the controller said.
He said that the command was starting on a right path to ensure that the service actualise its revenue target.
Egbudin urged operators to comply with trade facilitation.
“Apart from revenue collection and anti smuggling, one other thing is to facilitate trade,’’ the controller said.
Egbudin said, “If you want your trade to be facilitated you have to make honest declaration,’’
“You know that Apapa Area command is the flagship of customs service and if the service is to get it right, that means this command must get it right,’’ he said.
Egbudin said that there had been a sharp drop in importation and noted that with honest and transparent declarations, the target of N1.1 trillion set aside for the service would be achieved.
