Onne Command of Customs Generates N249bn in Five Months

By Bon Peters

The Port Harcourt Area 11 Command, Onne Rivers State of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated over N249 billion as revenue from January to May 2024.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) for the command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, while addressing newsmen, disclosed that his men also seized six containers of contraband goods worth over N3 billion within the period under review.

“On assumption of office, I embarked on courtesy visits to Bonded Terminals, various sister agencies and had series of meetings with stakeholders to seek for their cooperation in terms of collaboration, synergy and information sharing, in line with the Controller General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, policy thrust of consolidation, collaboration and innovation.”

“The command was initially given a target of N494 billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago to N618 billion as revenue target for the year 2024,” he stated further, adding that, “As of the end of May 2024, the command had generated a total revenue of N249.8 billion, which translate to 50.4 per cent of the initial target and 40.3 per cent of the current annual target.”

He noted that the command had an increase in revenue generation of N153.2 billion when compared with the preceding year, positing that this achievement occurred despite the nationwide strike embarked upon by the organised labour unions and holidays.

He insisted that the command looked forward to continuing the rise in revenue generation in the coming months and was optimistic that it would surpass the annual target by the end of the year.

On anti-smuggling activities, Mr Babandede, said, “We have on display six seized containers for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the Common External Tariff 2022-2026, as well as Sections 233, 234, 235, 245, 246 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”

“Also, today we have on display a seized Container of used electronics which has turned to e-waste. As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste pose to human lives, for the purpose of disposal we shall be working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NCS Act 2023.”

“The content of these importations contravenes the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety. Put together, the total Duty Paid Value of the 7 seized containers stands at N3.2 billion,” he added.