Customs Onne Port Generated N54.9bn in First Quarter, Comptroller Reveals

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Comptroller in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area 2 Command, Onne, Rivers State, Baba Imam has said the Command generated N54,992,123,687.15 revenue in the last three months.

The Customs Area Comptroller, disclosed this yesterday, while addressing journalists on the performance of the NCS  at the Area 2 Command, Onne.

Imam said within the past few weeks, there had been harvest of seizures justifying the command’s committed resolve to facilitate only legitimate trade in law with the provision of extant laws.

According to Imam, the command was given a target of N336 billion as revenue target for year 2023, adding that, so far, the N54.992 billion already generated, translated to 16.3 percent of the target.

He said with the amounted generated between January till date, the command had made an increase in revenue of N1,132,925,556.82 compared to what it generated within the time under review in 2022.

“In revenue generation, the command was given a target of N336 billion as revenue target for the year, 2023. As at today, the command has generated a total revenue of N54,992,123,687.15, which translate to 16.3 percent of the target.

“When compared to the same period last year (2022), the command had an increase in revenue of N1,132,925,556.82. This figure realised is inspite of not having a vessels berth in Onne Port for some time due to the election atmosphere.

“We look forward to continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months as we expect vessels to berth on our coastline within the next few weeks.”  He said 27 containers were confiscated for violations of various Customs laws and breach of procedures, adding that 24 of the seized containers were laden with refined vegetable oil comprising of 24,860 gallons. 

He said the import duty paid was valued at N833,172,538.42 (based on false declaration and contravention of Schedule 3 Article 4 of C.E.T).

“This is made visible with the display of a total number of 27 containers which comprise 26 seized containers and one detained container for violations or contravention of various Customs laws and breach of procedures  as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines (by trade) Schedule 3 Article 4 of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 46 paragraph (b), (d), (e), (f) and 169 Customs and Excise Management Act Cap C45 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended.

“These seizures and detention were made based on infractions related to import guidelines, which include contraband goods, false declaration, end user certificate requirement from the office of the National Security Adviser, NAFDAC permit/licence among others in line with the Federal Government fiscal policies.”