Customs Area 1 Grows Revenue by 23% to N28.5bn in Q1 2023

By Bon Peters

The Nigeria Customs Service Area 1 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, says it collected about N28.5 billion from January to March 2023.

Addressing newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital recently, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller CD Wada, said this was 23 per cent or N5 billion higher than N23.2 billion generated in the same period of 2022.

He noted that the Command recorded 119 interventions in the first quarter of this year, translating to N582.6 million, higher than the 91 interventions and N373.8 million reported in the corresponding period of last year.

While fielding questions from journalists, Mr Wada reiterated the need for synergy among the stakeholders in the maritime industry, though he lauded the robust relationship between critical stakeholders such as the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), NAGAFF, CRFFN, marine police, terminal operators such as PTOL, BUA and their landlord, NPA, among others.

On anti-smuggling, the Area Controller vowed to smash any smuggling syndicate.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank all sister agencies and other stakeholders for their support and to implore traders and stakeholders, in general, to adhere to customs procedures,” he said.

While commending the officers and men of the Command, including the units from the headquarters serving at the Command, for their achievements, he stated that the magnanimous support from the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Mr Hameed Ibrahim Ali, and his management team has translated to the improvements recorded at Port Harcourt Area 1 Customs Command.

He promised to sustain the high revenue generation profile of the Command as well as maintain the cordial relationships existing between the Command and the critical maritime stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the customs standard operating procedures and trade facilitation.