By Our Correspondent
……hand over illicit drugs to NDLEA/NAFDAC officials
On Monday, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Area Controller (AC), Apapa, Lagos Babatunde Olomu, says the Command generated N1.8 trillion between January and October this year.
TheNewsZenith reports that Olomu announced the revenue figure at the handing over of six containers of illicit drugs to two drugs-related regulatory agencies
The agencies are the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Olomu said the command was able to block leakages and achieve maximum revenue collection, “as evidenced in our monthly activities”.
Accoridng to him, from January to October, NCS generated N10.8 trillion. This is higher than the N931.1 billion generated in the corresponding period of 2023 by 101 per cent.
“It is instructive to state that our October 2024 collection was N264.4 billion. This is the highest monthly collection in the history of this command.
“Therefore, we are hopeful of meeting and even surpassing our target of N2.2 trillion as the year winds down,” TheNewsZenith quotes him as saying.
Olomu sai that in line with the Federal Government’s agenda of ease of doing business, the command now operated on Saturdays and Sundays.
This is to ensure that importers take delivery of their cargoes devoid of any delay.
The area Controller added that NCS has an intergovernmental working system where all government agencies work together.
This is without compromising the mandates of their respective management.
According to him, it is noteworthy that just last week, the command facilitated the first shipment of cargos to Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCPTA) regime.
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Olomu, then announced that the NCS handed over six containers carrying falsely declared pharmaceuticals to NAFDAC and NDLEA.
“This handover further underscores the robust inter-agency collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and sister government agencies in the port.
During the handing over, NDLEA Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, Mr Buba Wakawa, attributed the seizures to the established synergy with the NCS.
Wakawa said NCS and NDLEA officers detected the illicit drugs due to their dedication and determination.
He said the drugs were plotted inside 23 cartons in five containers and were later intercepted by the officers.
The anti-drug officer urged Nigerians to be careful when buying drugs, adding that some tramadol remained with registered drugs.
Also speaking, NAFDAC Director, Dr Olakunle Olaniyan, commended Apapa command of NCS for ensuring a safer environment.
Olaniyan thanked customs for handing over substantial and fortified drugs that could be consumed by youths in the society.
He reiterated NAFDAC’s zero tolerance for smuggling of substandard drugs into Nigeria.
He promised that the agency would carry out further investigation on the seizure.
Olaniyan said the NAFDAC was collaborating with China and India not to allow unregistered drugs into the country.
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