Jude Nzennaya Port Harcourt
The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 1 Command Port Harcourt had generated the total sum of One Hundred and Sixteen Billion, Five Hundred Million, nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand, nine Hundred and Fifty Eight Naira and Eighty Four Kobo (₦116,500,930,958.84) in the year 2023.
This was disclosed by the Area Controller Mustapha Hashim through a signed press statement made available to journalist by the Public Relations Officer Superintendent of Customs Oscar Ivara.
The revenue, when compared with that of 2022, which stood at Ninety Two Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Eleven Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifteen Naira and Forty kobo (₦92,329,811,715.40), attracted a significant difference of twenty four Billion, One Hundred and Seventy One Million, One Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Two hundred and Forty Three Naira (₦24,171,119,243).
According, the difference in the collections represents a 26 per cent increase.
Speaking further, Comptroller Hashim stated that the Command had fare considerably well in the Area of Revenue generation, despite daunting challenges in the Maritime sector. He revealed that during the period under review, the Command had experienced its lowest influx of container cargoes in to the Port, due to higher freight charges imposed by the shipping companies on importers.
However, the duties collected from Bulk Cargoes and Excise factories had contributed to the amount of revenue collected in the Command. Significant milestones were achieved in the months of October ₦13.301 Billion, November ₦12.879 Billion and December ₦12.288 as against ₦8.986 Billion, ₦6.028 Billion and ₦5.450 Billion collected same months in the previous year respectively.
These feat could not have been achieved without painstakingly engaging with our critical stakeholders through several forms of sensitization programs and other forms of training particularly on issues of Non-conformity with statutory clearance procedures. And the feedback we got can be attributed to some of our successes. The Command also insisted that all unpaid assessment must be paid.
In the area of Export, the Area Controller noted that 30,000mt of Charcoal, 26,000mt of Zinc and Lead had been facilitated through the Ibeto Wharf and it is strongly believed that with the full take-off of the Ibeto Wharf the Command will sustain a good import and export hub as well as a sustainable revenue base.
“I am very optimistic that with the Command’s strategy of maximizing the collection of Customs duties, other levies, and payment of all unpaid assessments, the Command will surpass the revenue collected in 2023”,
“Under my administration, the Command organized interactive sessions with all the Government agencies operating in the port with the aim of fostering inter-agency collaborations and synergy. This interactive sessions were extended to Customs licensed Agents through sensitization programs.
The corporation, support and brilliant contributions received from members of my management team had been very pivotal to our successes recorded, especially in the areas of capacity building, value addition and revenue generation.
“We cannot thank the Comptroller General of Customs B. A Adeniyi MFR and his management team enough for their timely support and encouragement towards the achievements of these successes”.
My special appreciation goes to the stakeholders operating in Area 1 Port, Particularly the Port Manager, Heads of Government Agencies, Leadership of ANLCA and NAGAFF, members of the Press, among others. Your support and encouragement throughout my stay in this Port are immeasurable.
