Remarkable :  Customs at Onne Command records N249.8bn revenue collection 

Remarkable :  Customs at Onne Command records N249.8bn revenue collection 

The Port Harcourt Area 2 Command, Onne, has made impressive performance in revenue generation, with a huge sum of ₦249,752,268,298.28, approximately N249.8billion realised from January to May, 2024.

The Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, disclosed this during a press conference at the Command, today.

The CAC revealed :  “The Command was initially given a target of N494billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago to N618billion as revenue target for year 2024. At the end of May 2024, the Command generated a total revenue of N249,752,268,298.28 billion, which translated to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3% of the current annual target.

“When compared to the same period last year, the Command had an increase in revenue generation of N153.2billion. It is noteworthy to mention that despite the NLC strike, Democracy day and Sallah holiday, as at this morning the Command generated N43.4billion in the month of June 2024.

“We look forward to continuous rise in revenue generation in the coming months and we are optimistic that we would surpass the annual target by the end of the year.”

Giving details on  anti-smuggling activities of the Command during the period under review, the CAC 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 poses 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, to have it disposed.

“The seized items include 4×20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics, that is 96 jumbo size in total with Duty Paid Value of ₦911,520,011.00.
Also seized were 2x40f containers laden with 2,625 cartons of codeine cough syrup, 80 cartons of Sildenatil Citrate tablets and 40 cartons of deluxe chilly cutter with Duty Paid Value of ₦2,250,654,000.00 (Based on concealment, false declaration, contravention of revised import prohibition guideline and section 55 Sub-section (1) paragraphs (C) and (I) of 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 ₦3,188,454,452”.

His words :  “Let me state here that the above seizures were made purely from intelligence gathering and information sharing with sister agency alongside 100% physical examination.

“I want to also use this opportunity to thank NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation as seizures of this magnitude could not have been possible without their involvement. Nevertheless, investigation is still ongoing through our Legal/Intelligent Unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.

“These containers are currently in our Government Warehouse. The seized containers would be filed for condemnation at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt and shall subsequently be forfeited to the Federal Government.”

His went on : “the Command shall continue to address our core responsibilities by employing various risk management strategies aimed at collecting revenue, identifying vulnerable leakages, gathering intelligence and facilitating trade. We cannot but underscore the necessity and imperativeness of leveraging on collaboration and intelligence sharing with sister agencies and stakeholders, as it enhances our revenue drive and anti-smuggling feats.

“These deliberate and concerted efforts will guide us in contributing our quota towards realising remarkable results in line with the Vision and Mission of the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and His Management Team.

“I recognize the critical role the media plays, especially in the area of sensitization and public enlightenment, in order to achieve willful compliance to trade laws of all imports and export through this axis.”