As Nigeria moves towards diversifying its economy in the face of dwindling oil revenue, APM Terminals Apapa has assured the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of support in enhancing the collection of tariffs, duties and other levies on imports and exports.
Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Andrew Dawes, gave the assurance when the new Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command of NCS, Comptroller Willy Egbudin visited the terminal on Wednesday.
Dawes, who received his guest at the expansive 55-hectare yard facility, also said APM Terminals remains committed to the facilitation and enhancement of trade.
“We are fully committed to providing as much service as is required in ensuring smooth operation at the port. We are committed to developing and supporting trade growth, in line with the federal government’s drive for customs revenue, which drives the revenue collection of Customs. We are fully aligned with your ambitions and you will have our full support in delivering your mandate,” Dawes said.
He said APM Terminals, as an international container terminal operating company, employs the most modern and technologically advanced terminal handling equipment available in the world.
“We are dedicated to setting the industry standards for efficiency, safety and sustainability and it is our goal to support Nigeria’s drive for economic diversification and growth,” he said.
Comptroller Egbudin, who assumed duties at the Apapa Command a week ago, solicited the cooperation of APM Terminals in enhancing revenue collection at the Command.
“Revenue generation is very key to the Service especially at this time when the Federal Government’s budget is based on non-oil revenue. So a lot of emphasis is going to be placed on the amount of revenue we generate to the government coffers.
“Apapa being the flagship of Nigeria Customs Service; all eyes are on us to ensure that we meet our target and if the Service is going to meet its target, Apapa must first realize its target,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently said that his administration would enact new policies to diversify Nigeria’s economy from oil to other sectors such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing.
The diversification, according to the President, would be captured in the 2016 national budget.
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