NCS Apapa Command Generates N40.6bn FOB in 2019

• NCS Apapa Command Generates N40.6bn FOB in 2019

The Nigerian Customs Service, Apapa Command, generated a total sum of N40.6 billion through Free on Board offered on exports processed in 2019.

Mohammed Abba-Kura, the Area Controller of the command, disclosed this on Monday and explained that there has been an improvement in the level of compliance with export and import guidelines by port users.

The Controller said the command seized 112 containers of various cargoes in 2019 while saying 95 percent of trade disputes were resolved.

“Drugs of various types were also seized. Like 47 of them were drugs that were not registered by National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), so they are not fit for human consumption in Nigeria, but the importers went ahead to import them.

“Then, we seized about 16 containers of tramadol, 18 containers of vegetable oil, 18 containers of tomato paste and we had one container of used tyres, which they declared as used spare parts, we had some containers of rice, two containers of new empty bags of 50kg rice. It was printed with various brand names.

“There is real improvement and if you compare it to last year you will see what we are talking about, definitely, we cannot close our eyes and allow such to enter the country. They violated the law, so we seized them.

“We resolved more than 95% of the disputes here within and those who feel like they don’t believe in our argument have the right to escalate upstairs or to headquarters. Most of those that even went higher are coming back to agree in our own favour,” he said.

Speaking on border closure, Abba-Kura said it has been helpful despite few challenges. He explained that Nigerian neighbours failed to curb smuggling of goods into and outside the country even when there were trade guidelines.

He said: “My advice is that they should be compliant in their declarations and we are going to carry over most of the policies or strategies that we adopted in 2019. We’ve laid a very good foundation, so we are going to continue on that. Like the open door policy, we attend to complaints as at when due. We give importers or their representatives their rights according to the rules and regulations,” Abba-Kura said.

Free on Board (FOB) is a term in international commerce used to describe the point at which costs, risks, and obligations associated with delivery transfer from the seller to the buyer.