The Apapa Area command of the Nigeria Customs Service said it generated N167 billion revenue between January and June 2015.
Area Controller of the command, Charles Edike who gave the figure on Wednesday at a stakeholder’s forum in Lagos said the figure was 4.51 percent higher than the N158.8 billion collected within the same period last year.
He said although the amount generated in the first half of 2015 showed an increase as against what it collected in 2014, the command would have generated more than the amount it recorded but for the decline in importation into country.
Some of the factors responsible for the low import into the country according to Edike were the rise in inflation as a result of devaluation of the naira, lower oil price and economic slowdown and the central bank policy which restricted forex to 41 import commodities among others.
“If there were vessels and containers, we will collect more revenue but where there are no importations, that will also affect the revenue collected. These are the reasons adduced for the low import and certainly we are hoping that in no time when this tide changes, there will be more import and the revenue will also rise,” Edike said.
On the number of seizures recorded by the command, Edike said a total of 159 containers were detained for various offences during the period under review.
He said out of the 159 containers, owners of 153 containers had so far paid the prescribed penalties while six containers were still in custody.
Edike said goods exported through the Apapa port in the period under review is valued at N220 billion
On the issue of the faulty scanners used for goods examination, Edike said the equipment were undergoing maintenance and that approval had been given for re-routing.
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