Customs in P/Harcourt Area II makes impressive performance .Collects over ₦81.2bn in third quarter

Customs in P/Harcourt Area II makes impressive performance

.Collects over ₦81.2bn in third quarter

.Records ₦865.9m seizures

By Udeme Clement

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area II Command, Onne Port, has made impressive performance in revenue generation for the Federal Government, as the Command raked in over ₦81.2 billion in the third quarter of 2019.

The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Command, Ifeoma Onuigbo Ojekwu made this known to Financial Business news.

She explained, “This amount generated surpassed the sum of ₦69,535,174,318.38 collected within the same period under review in 2018 with over ₦11,661,523,540.19”.

She pointed out, “This feat at increasing revenue collection is first of its kind in the history of the Command. It is also as a result of the strategic plans aimed at enhancing the revenue collecting capacity in Onne Port”.

She commended Comptroller Aliyu Galadima Saidu for his ingenuity and leadership prowess in moving the Command forward.   Her words,  “The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Saidu, has increasingly deployed tact, intelligence enforcement and technology in ensuring maximum compliance by users of the port”.

She informed, “The Command also recorded a total of 66 Seizures with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦865.9million for the period under review.

“Comptroller Galadima is also vigorously pursuing the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Ali Hameed’s  zero tolerance for duty evasion, smuggling and other infractions like under declaration and so on”.

She emphasized, “He has been reviving proficiency in the area with regards to identifying and blocking all possible avenues of revenue leakages; enhancing capacity building in areas of modern Customs Operations; reinforcing the commitment of Officers and men in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities and assuring to bring, to book any erring officer found compromising.

“Comptroller Saidu ensured that seizures were successfully accomplished, as a result of the renewed determination of CGC Ali to rid the country of all forms of illegal importation.

“There will be continuous sensitization for stakeholders on the need to be compliant with extant laws governing Customs activities.”

On anti-smuggling activities, she explained, “Seizures made within the period are: 12 x 20ft containers comprising 13,180 jerrycans of vegetable oil with DPV of  ₦82,517,024.00; 5 x 20ft containers comprising of 8706 cartons of foreign soap worth ₦79,497,617.00; two containers with specifications 1 x 20ft and 1 x 40 ft respectively loaded with 57,300 pieces of matches; 59 cartons of matches, 1,300 sacks of shovel; 100 cartons of hook knives and 172 sacks of diggers, all amounted to ₦52,463,002.00.

“Others include 1 x 40ft container loaded with scrap metal of various sizes and types worth ₦5,386,979.00; 41 x 20ft containers comprising of 10,800 packs of corrugated aluminium roofing tiles/sheets and its accessories with DPV of ₦561,753,188.00; 1 x 20ft container comprising of 315 bales of textiles (wax material) worth ₦18,495,395.00; 69 bags of imported rice and 329 bales of clothing amounting to ₦10,725,658.00; 4 x 20ft containers of one hundred and sixty logs of hardwood with DPV of ₦10,342,838.00; 1 x 20 ft container comprising of 588 cartons of battery; 18 cartons of rolls PVC; 80 bundles of plain cartons and 10 keys of gum worth ₦20,654,664.00”.

More so, the Area Controller placed a marching order to ensure that all importers/and their agents are compelled to comply with the extant laws on international trade, reiterated the Service zero tolerance for false declaration of goods or other deliberate infractions.

He assured the readiness of the Command to facilitate trade in line with global best practice to all honest and compliant traders.