The Onne Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) River State breaks revenue record in 2022
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Nigeria Customs Service, Area II Command, Onne Port, Rivers State has generated a total revenue of Two hundred and Forty-Two billion, Ninety million, Six hundred and Twenty-Nine thousand, Three hundred and Nine Naira, Twenty-Nine kobo (₦242,090,629,309.29) from duty paid on imported goods in year 2022. This was made known to Tentacle by the Commands Public Relations Officer, Lomba Benjamin, a Superintendent of Customs.
The amount generated is higher than the 2021 revenue generation by Fifty-Four billion, Four hundred and Twenty-Four million, One hundred and Forty-Six thousand, One hundred and Ten Naira, Thirteen kobo (₦54,424,146,110.13) and One hundred and Twenty-Three billion, One hundred and Thirty-One million, Four hundred and Fourteen thousand, Three hundred and Nine Naira, Seventy-Six kobo (₦123,131,414,309.76) over the sum generated in 2020.
According to the Command spokes person, the 2022, revenues generated represents a 28.3 per cent increase against what it generated in 2021 and 59% increase over revenue generated in year 2020.
Area 11 Command Onne has said that the revenue generation profile has continued to be on the rise annually due to the ongoing reforms in the Command which it embarks upon such as
Robust stakeholder sensitization resulting in more informed/voluntary compliance, Strict enforcement of extant guidelines, Increased disposition of officers and men to put national interest above self and Strategic deployment of officers to various duty post.
The Command has also recorded remarkable achievements in the area of trade facilitation, Security and welfare notable among these are, Commissioning of ultra-modern mobile scanner, Upgrading and installation of 24 hours CCTV network cameras within and around our Government warehouses, Building of security watch towel in the Government warehouse environment, Upgrading of the Customs Clinic in Ebubu barracks and installation of modern clinical equipments. Also, there was the renovation of old Customs Processing Centre (CPC) to 100 sitting capacity modern Conference room.
On export, the Command has exported a total of 1,096,646.14 metric tonnes of goods with a total Free On Board (FOB) value of ($1,268,038,648.91) which is equivalent to (₦522,102,233,326.76) at ₦411.7 per dollar, processed through the area Command in 2022.
A total of (₦2,713,884,004.19) was recorded for Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) which is higher compared with year 2021 record of (₦881,011,957.22) which shows that the Command achieved outstanding feats in its export activities within the period under review.
We have consistently made it clear that the Command welcomes only compliant traders who are willing to operate in accordance with the laid down extant laws and guidelines of importation and exportation.
Onne Command of the Nigeria Customs has shown a clear resolve to deal ruthlessly with importers and agents who manifest a recalcitrant attitude to obeying these laws. The Command maintains an open lines of communication between all governments agencies at all times. The process of information sharing within the agencies goes a long way in assisting the command to identify and neutralize all possible avenues that could lead to compromises in revenue and security.
The seizures made in 2022, are as a result of synergy between the Command and it other units within the service and other security agencies which include Customs Intelligence Unit, CGC Strike Force, Valuation, Customs Police and Post Clearance Audit while sister security agencies include the Nigeria Police force, Nigeria immigration service, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), officers of Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) among others.
The Command had a total of Fifty (50) seizures with a duty paid value of One billion, Seven hundred and Sixty-One million, Eight hundred and Seventy-Nine thousand, Four hundred and Twenty-Eight Naira, Nine kobo (₦1,761,879,428.9), Some of the strategic seizures for year 2022 includes: 12,560 cartons of Tomatoes paste with duty paid value of (₦137,618,985.00), 1,665 cartons of pharmaceutical products with duty paid value of (₦338,103,951.00), 3,768 bales of Textiles fabrics with duty paid value of (₦475,833,592.45), 2100 gallons of 25 litre Vegetable oil with duty paid value of (₦66,549,420.00), 4409 cartons of Soap/Detergent with duty paid values of (₦159,665,612.00), 1054 cartons of tobacco and cigarette with duty paid value of (₦76,086,287.00), 10,462 pieces of Used tyres with duty paid value of (₦94,645,081.00), 9 Used vehicles with duty paid value of (₦71,869,316.50)
The Command looks forward to unprecedented performance this year 2023 as it appreciate the Comptroller–General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) and his management team for their consistent encouragement and support, Onne Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has promise and reassured it resilience and diligence officers and men of the Command to carrying out all statutory responsibilities without compromise.
The Command also appreciated stakeholders, sister agencies, the business community and other organizations for their support and cooperation as well as members of the press for continued support and partnership.
