Apapa Customs Compt Olomu Says Sevice has Achieved 80% Automation, Makes 17.9billion Highest Revenue Collection in One Day

…Intercept 2 Container of Used Clothing, Soaps

By DAPO OLAWUNI

One month after Compt Babatunde Olomu assumed office as the Area Controller of the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Command has recorded a landmark daily collection of N17,903,312,598 on June 14, 2024 being the highest since its inception.

Olomu also said that the Nigeria Customs Service has achieved 80percent automation of its processes and procedures through various innovations and pilot schemes recently introduced by the Comptroller General, Wale Adeniyi.

Briefing journalists in Apapa on Wednesday, Comptroller Olomu stated that the command was able to collect its highest daily revenue, despite the decline in cargo throughput by at least 60percemt in recent time.

He said the feat recorded is a way of celebrating the one year in office of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

According to him, this feat is the beginning of many revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling exploits to be achieved in the course of discharging the command’s statutory responsibilities.

“I assumed office as Area Controller of the nation’s premier port command a month ago, and I want to assure port users and our esteemed stakeholders that officers and men of the command under my watch are ready to sustain and surpass our given mandate.

“Consequently, this unprecedented revenue collection is a way of celebrating One year in office of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR whose inspiring and motivating leadership has contributed greatly in the achievement.

“Finally, I want to use this medium to urge port users to always abide by the tenets and etiquette of lawful operations such as obeying the extant import and export guidelines, prompt and accurate payment of duty and
promotion of regular engagement in the national interest”

In areas of challenges being faced at the Command, he said compliance has always been an issue, but that within the one month of his stay, he has been able to jerk up the level of compliance.

“We believe that once the level of compliance is high, it would dovetail into virtually into every other thing we do.

“To be sincere with you, the cargo throughput has dropped for as close to 60percemt, however we are leveraging on stakeholders engagement, blocking of revenue leakages and facilitation of trade, engagement of our stakeholders and building upon the CGCs cardinal points of collaboration, consolidation and innovation
These three pillars has helped us in ensuring that the revenue that supposed to go to the Federal Government is protected.

“As regards the automation level, it is about 80percent, the Nigeria Customs Service is one of the agencies of government that’s been modernizing and ensuring that virtually all our processes are automated” he said

DAILY TREND reports that some of these prodcuts of automation which was recently introduced by the Customs CGC includes; advance ruling, time release studies and AEO operator.